Explination of Break and Enter

Break and Enter charges laid by the police are usually in relation to a dwelling house i.e. a place where people live or other structure or place where people function. For example, a commercial place of business. However, there are broader exceptions to this general principle and one should review subsection (2) of the legislation for a full list of places.

The offence of Break and Enter envisions the Accused breaking and entering into a place with the intention of committing an indictable offence. Most commonly, Break and Enters are committed by people attempting to steal property and thereby committing the indictable offence of theft while Breaking and Entering. If an Accused does not have the intention to commit an indictable offence, but unlawfully enters a premises, while the Accused may not be guilty of Break and Enter, he may be committing other offences in the Criminal Code.

Contrary to what it sounds, Break an Enter does not require any damage to property entered. All that is required is any entrance into the property by even a part of one's body. Reference should be made to section 350 of the Criminal Code for more details.

Criminal Code of Canada: Break and Enter

Breaking and entering with intent, committing offence or breaking out

348.(1) Every one who

(a) breaks and enters a place with intent to commit an indictable offence therein,

(b) breaks and enters a place and commits an indictable offence therein, or

(c) breaks out of a place after

(i) committing an indictable offence therein, or

(ii) entering the place with intent to commit an indictable offence therein,

is guilty

(d) if the offence is committed in relation to a dwelling-house, of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for life, and

(e) if the offence is committed in relation to a place other than a dwelling-house, of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Presumptions

(2) For the purposes of proceedings under this section, evidence that an accused

(a) broke and entered a place or attempted to break and enter a place is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof that he broke and entered the place or attempted to do so, as the case may be, with intent to commit an indictable offence therein; or

(b) broke out of a place is, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, proof that he broke out after

(i) committing an indictable offence therein, or

(ii) entering with intent to commit an indictable offence therein.

Definition of "place"

(3) For the purposes of this section and section 351, "place" means

(a) a dwelling-house;

(b) a building or structure or any part thereof, other than a dwelling-house;

(c) a railway vehicle, a vessel, an aircraft or a trailer; or

(d) a pen or an enclosure in which fur-bearing animals are kept in captivity for breeding or commercial purposes.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 348; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 47; 1997, c. 18, s. 20.

Aggravating circumstance � home invasion

348.1If a person is convicted of an offence under section 98 or 98.1, subsection 279(2) or section 343, 346 or 348 in relation to a dwelling-house, the court imposing the sentence on the person shall consider as an aggravating circumstance the fact that the dwelling-house was occupied at the time of the commission of the offence and that the person, in committing the offence,

(a) knew that or was reckless as to whether the dwelling-house was occupied; and

(b) used violence or threats of violence to a person or property.

2002, c. 13, s. 15; 2008, c. 6, s. 34.

Being unlawfully in dwelling-house

349.(1) Every person who, without lawful excuse, the proof of which lies on that person, enters or is in a dwelling-house with intent to commit an indictable offence in it is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Presumption

(2) For the purposes of proceedings under this section, evidence that an accused, without lawful excuse, entered or was in a dwelling-house is, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, proof that he entered or was in the dwelling-house with intent to commit an indictable offence therein.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 349; 1997, c. 18, s. 21.

Entrance

350.For the purposes of sections 348 and 349,

(a) a person enters as soon as any part of his body or any part of an instrument that he uses is within any thing that is being entered; and

(b) a person shall be deemed to have broken and entered if

(i) he obtained entrance by a threat or an artifice or by collusion with a person within, or

(ii) he entered without lawful justification or excuse, the proof of which lies on him, by a permanent or temporary opening.

R.S., c. C-34, s. 308.

Possession of break-in instrument

351.(1) Every one who, without lawful excuse, the proof of which lies on them, has in their possession any instrument suitable for the purpose of breaking into any place, motor vehicle, vault or safe under circumstances that give rise to a reasonable inference that the instrument has been used or is or was intended to be used for such a purpose,

(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years; or

(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Disguise with intent

(2) Every one who, with intent to commit an indictable offence, has his face masked or coloured or is otherwise disguised is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 351; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 48; 2008, c. 18, s. 9.

Possession of instruments for breaking into coin-operated or currency exchange devices

352.Every one who, without lawful excuse, the proof of which lies on him, has in his possession any instrument suitable for breaking into a coin-operated device or a currency exchange device, under circumstances that give rise to a reasonable inference that the instrument has been used or is or was intended to be used for breaking into a coin-operated device or a currency exchange device, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

R.S., c. C-34, s. 310; 1972, c. 13, s. 26; 1974-75-76, c. 93, s. 28.

Break and Enter Lawyer Toronto (Criminal Attorney)