A recent rash of early morning burglaries targeting businesses on the South and Southwest side of Chicago has led police to ask people to be on the lookout for a man between the ages of 25 and 40 wearing a black face mask, a blue jacket, and a green hoodie. The suspect uses bricks to smash glass and steal cash and property, usually between the hours of 2 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.
The criminal offense of burglary is often portrayed in the media as a person dressed in dark clothing and a mask, lurking in the shadows, waiting to break into a structure and take something that belongs to another person. The legal reality of burglary is a bit more nuanced, hinging on two elements: unauthorized entry into a building or structure and the intent to commit a criminal offense once inside.