Were You Really ‘Robbed’? THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROBBERY, THEFT, AND BURGLARY
Burglary Unlike theft and robbery, burglary is not always a theft crime. A burglary occurs when one unlawfully enters a structure they do not own or have permission to enter — and they have the intent to commit a crime once they are inside. Some examples of burglary include breaking into a vehicle or opening up an unlocked door to commit a crime after they enter. Thefts, robberies, and burglaries can be confusing, but they all share one thing: If you’re convicted of one of these crimes, you will face serious consequences. If you ever need legal advice or assistance, get in touch with a lawyer you trust. We’ve got your back!
Robberies, thefts, and burglaries are all crimes, and the terms are often used interchangeably when people talk about them. However, the actual definitions of each word are different in the legal and law enforcement world. There are a few things that you should know when it comes to using the correct terminology.
Theft Theft is the criminal act of taking another individual’s property (both tangible and intangible) without their permission. To fulfill the requirements of the crime, the person committing the act must have the intent to permanently deprive another person of that property. Shoplifting, taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission, stealing money from another person, and taking by deception are all examples of theft.
Robbery Robbery differs from theft in that while they both involve taking something from someone, robbery includes force or the threat of force. It is a violent crime, and the victim must’ve been in fear for the crime to be classified as robbery. It should be noted that the property that is taken during the crime does not need to be taken directly off of the victim’s person. It can be property that someone is in control of, such as bills in a cash register.
SHOULD I INSTALL SOLAR PANELS ON MY HOME?
A new trend is spreading across the country like wildfire. You may have noticed it: Houses in your neighborhood or surrounding areas have solar panels installed on their roofs. You may have wondered how these panels work or if they’d be worth it for your home. Well, it depends on your situation. Solar panels convert sunlight to usable electricity with the help of a solar inverter, and that electricity can be used to power nearly everything in your home. Some solar panel systems will take it a step further and include a solar battery that allows you to store electricity to use later. This comes in handy if you live in an area that experiences power outages from time to time. Solar panels can be an extremely beneficial investment, but they do have a fairly high initial cost. The average
residential solar panel installation cost today is between $13,000–$17,000 after claiming the 26% federal solar tax credit. It can also take anywhere from 2–3 months to get your solar panels fully installed after signing an agreement with an installer. Most Americans don’t have an extra $13,000 lying around to spend on solar panels, but many companies offer financing options to meet any budget. It’s estimated that solar panels will save you more than $50,000 throughout their lifetime due to rising energy costs. Also, in some states, you can sell the excess solar electricity your panels produce back to the utility company. Another new idea hitting the East Coast this year is the solar shingle, which will allow your entire roof to act like a solar panel. These shingles can be easily
installed with a nail gun and should cut down on labor costs significantly. The new solar shingle has already won an award at CES 2022 for Best of Innovation Award for Smart Cities. Solar power is definitely something to keep your eye on — it is a rapidly developing technology. Many benefits come with installing solar panels today, but with the introduction of solar shingles, it might be better to wait and see how the technology develops.
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