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Property Crimes
RSMo 569.160effective 01 Jan 2017

Burglary in the first degree

In plain English

Burglary in the first degree means someone breaks into or sneaks into a building on purpose to commit a crime inside. It becomes first degree burglary if, during the break-in or while inside, the person is carrying explosives or a dangerous weapon, hurts or threatens to hurt someone who is not part of the crime, or another person who is not part of the crime is present in the building. This is a class B felony, which is a serious crime.

Penalties named in this law
class B felony5–15 years in prison

Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.

Word-for-word law

569.160. in the first degree — . — 1. A person commits the of burglary in the first degree if he or she enters or knowingly remains unlawfully in a building or for the purpose of committing an offense therein, and when in or while in the building or inhabitable structure or in immediate flight therefrom, the person or another :

(1) Is armed with explosives or a ; or

(2) Causes or threatens immediate to any person who is not a participant in the crime; or

(3) There is present in the structure another person who is not a participant in the crime.

2. The offense of burglary in the first degree is a .

Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.

Source & history notes

(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17 (1998) Criminal is armed upon equipping himself with a weapon for the purpose of stealing it. State v. Crews, 968 S.W.2d 763 (Mo.App. E.D.)

View official source

Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 569.160: Burglary in the first degree | KnowMo Laws