BURGLARY CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Over 90 years of combined criminal defense experience in the Van Nuys and San Fernando courts

Bob Schwartz

Of Counsel

Bob Schwartz has been a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney for 43 years. In 2012, Mr. Schwartz was honored as the Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year by the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Garret Weinrieb

Managing Partner

Garret Weinrieb, a graduate of the UCLA School of Law and the University of California, Berkeley (Phi Beta Kappa), draws on over 20 years of experience as a Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley criminal defense attorney and litigator to aggressively represent and protect his clients’ rights and interests against all felony and misdemeanor criminal charges.

Practice Areas

BURGLARY CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

BURGLARY

A Burglary occurs when someone enters a structure with the intention of committing a theft or a felony when they get inside.  “Residential burglaries” refer to burglaries of homes, and “commercial burglaries” refer to burglaries of businesses.

Residential burglary is a more serious crime than commercial burglary.  A commercial burglary can be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the facts of the case.  However, a residential burglary is always a felony and is a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes Law.  If someone is home when a residential burglary occurs, the charge is even more serious.

A first degree burglary carries a maximum prison sentence of 6 years.  A second degree burglary, which includes commercial burglaries, carries a maximum punishment of 1 year in jail.

How do prosecutors prove burglary charges? Most commercial burglary cases involve shoplifting where the defendant is either caught on camera or observed by an undercover loss prevention officer.  Residential burglaries can be harder to prove unless someone was home and saw the defendant at the residence.  Prosecutors may rely on fingerprints, DNA evidence, cell phone records, social media and electronic communications to prove that a person was involved in a residential burglary.  Some defendants are found in possession of property stolen during a burglary.

There may be strong defenses in burglary cases.  For example, merely being present when a burglary occurs does not make someone guilty of burglary.  The prosecutor must prove that a defendant was an active participant in criminal activity.  In other cases, a strong defense may be that a defendant did not have the intention of committing a theft or felony when they entered the premises.  Sometimes the prosecution’s evidence is simply too speculative to support a burglary charge.

At Schwartz & Weinrieb, we regularly defend individuals in all criminal courts charged with residential and commercial burglaries. We are experts at defending people charged with burglary and obtain results for our clients that other defense attorneys are unable to achieve.

Whether you are looking for a Burbank Criminal Lawyer, Glendale Criminal Attorney, San Fernando Criminal Lawyer, Van Nuys Criminal Attorney or an attorney in other parts of Los Angeles, Schwartz & Weinrieb is ready to aggressively defend against your criminal charges.

If you or a loved one has been charged with a criminal offense, contact a criminal defense attorney from Schwartz & Weinrieb today at (818) 888-2711.

Experienced Defence Lawyers

With over 90 years of combined criminal defense experience, the murder defense legal team at Schwartz & Weinrieb will immediately review all evidence against you. Your case will be an immediate priority and a defense strategy will be determined and immediately employed.

CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY

When you have been arrested and charged with a crime in the Van Nuys or San Fernando courthouses, whether a first DUI offense or a serious felony charge, one rule holds true: do not discuss your case or answer questions until you have legal representation.

Latest News

Van Nuys DUI Attorneys: Helping You Through the Process

Van Nuys DUI Attorneys: Helping You Through the Process

Over the past 20 years we have defended criminal cases ranging from DUIs to representing clients in 500+ trials for felony cases (murder, etc.), and when it comes to DUI charges in Los Angeles they are simple compared to what we’re used to. Looking at DUI charges in...

Parking at the Van Nuys Courthouse: Tips From Local Attorneys

Parking at the Van Nuys Courthouse: Tips From Local Attorneys

Whether you’re involved in a civil or criminal case in Van Nuys or simply serving jury duty, you likely landed on this blog post because you’re looking for information on parking at the Van Nuys courthouse and as criminal defense attorneys that have appeared in Van...

DUI Cases in Van Nuys: Our Feedback as Top Defense Attorneys

DUI Cases in Van Nuys: Our Feedback as Top Defense Attorneys

With Van Nuys being at the center of the San Fernando Valley near where the 405 and 101 freeways collide and the Van Nuys criminal court (Van Nuys Courthouse West) is located, it should be no surprise that DUI cases are very common in the area, but what’s the...