Burglary Terms and Definitions in Weld County, Colorado

This page contains the definitions of vital Burglary terms and definitions used in Burglary laws that govern the cities of Greeley, Erie, Hudson, Berthoud, and throughout all cities in Weld County as outlined in the Colorado Revised Statues (C.R.S. 18-4-201).

 What is the Definition of First and Second Degree Burglary?

First Degree Burglary (C.R.S. 18-4-202) and Second Degree Burglary (C.R.S. 18-4-203) are defined as a:

Places that are open to the public automatically guarantee that the people entering have the license and privilege to do so, unless they have been forbidden by an authorized person.If part of the public building is open but part of it is not, anyone who enters that closed off portion without the proper privileges is entering unlawfully. The law states that just because a person may enter one part of the whole building does not mean they have the license to enter the rest of it. Property open for the public may limit the times in which visitors or customers may enter and remain. A department store, for example, posts certain hours and after that set time everyone must leave. Staying knowingly in a place in which public visitation has ended is defined by the law as “remaining unlawfully.” Hiding in a store which is about to close or is closed, would qualify under this definition. In regards to land, people may come onto a piece of property with full license and privilege as long as there are no fences, other obstructions, and no signs announcing “No Trespassing” displayed.

What is the Definition of Premises?

First Degree Burglary (CRS 18-4-202) and Second Degree Burglary (CRS 18-4-203) all refer to crimes that involve people entering unlawfully or breaking into premises with the intention to commit a crime against someone or their property. “Premises” refers to any type of house, land, or real estate. This includes anything built on that land or improvements made to it.

What is the Definition of Separate Building?

First Degree Burglary (C.R.S. 18-4-202) and Second Degree Burglary (C.R.S. 18-4-203) may involve someone coming into a separate building to commit a crime inside. If a building has two more separate units that are privately owned it is considered a separate building. Different sections of apartment buildings, condos, or duplexes fall under this definition.