3rd Degree Burglary Lawyer | Douglas County Criminal Defense

3rd degree burglary in Castle Rock, Parker, and Highlands Ranch is an offense that can involve breaking into locked equipment intending to steal its contents. While this is the least serious form of burglary in Colorado, these acts are still a misdemeanor. Even entering a safe and taking something that doesn’t belong to you or reaching into a product dispenser and stealing goods can result in burglary charges. With a prison sentence and substantial fines looming, consulting an experienced 3rd degree burglary lawyer is essential for those facing allegations.

Douglas County 3rd Degree Burglary Law

Douglas County’s third-degree burglary law makes entering or breaking into equipment intending to steal or damage something unlawful. CRS 18-4-204 defines the elements of burglary in the third degree in Douglas, El Paso, and Arapahoe County. You commit this type of burglary if:

intending to commit a crime you enter or break into,
- a vault, safe, cash register, coin vending machine, product dispenser, money depository, safety deposit box, coin telephone, coin box,
- or any other equipment / apparatus designed to protect valuables

Other common items where burglary occurs include gym / school lockers, slot machines, and glass display cases. It is important to note that forming your intent to take or damage items inside these types of equipment makes the acts burglary. If the intent is formed after entry, burglary doesn’t apply.

How Bad is Third-Degree Burglary in Douglas County?

Each burglary case in Colorado is unique. The penalties for a conviction won’t always look the same. 3rd degree burglary is at minimum a class 2 misdemeanor throughout Castle Rock, Aurora, and Colorado Springs. Penalties can include:

up to a 6 month county jail sentence,
fines of up to $750

However, in situations where the target of the burglary was controlled substances that are legally kept at the location, a class 1 misdemeanor applies. This can possibly double the jail sentence and increase the fine range.

Douglas County 3rd Degree Burglary Lawyer

Strategic representation is vital for those facing burglary allegations in Castle Rock, Parker, or Highlands Ranch. We have decades of combined experience fighting property crime charges and our reviews speak for themselves. Perhaps the equipment you entered or broke into doesn’t fit the statute or your intent was formed after entry. Nevertheless, contact our office for a free, confidential consultation with a criminal lawyer regarding your burglary charges. We offer same-day jail visits, affordable fees, and flexible payment plans for those facing property crime allegations throughout Douglas, Arapahoe, and Elbert County.