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Old 01-29-2010, 07:40 PM
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Ayatollahgondola Ayatollahgondola is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ilbegone View Post
I was skimming above and saw someone with, among others, a charge of possessing "Burglar's tools". What exactly are "burglar's tools"?

I was once watching one of those "Cops" shows, and they found a Klein plastic handled skinning knife in the back seat of the arrestee's car, about as worthless of a tool as there is for keeping an edge, but a tool specificly made for removing insulation from a conductor.

The cop turned it over in his hand and said something like "gosh, I don't know what it is, but it's a vicious weapon meant to hurt someone".

So, we have the officer's probable view that, particularly if he can't explain it, everything is a weapon.

Burglar's tools.

You can use a mattock for digging up roots, or break open a door. Maybe smash someone's skull while they're at it - a multi tasking device. Garden tool, burglar's tool, or weapon?

How about a backhoe? One can excavate and backfill as well as tear an ATM out of the wall at the bank.

Glass cutting tools can be used for all sorts of creative projects, as well as a sawzall. And so on.

So what exactly are "burglar's tools?"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeanfromfillmore View Post
Maybe a flashlight. That's what they all use in the movies.
Sorry, but I missed your question earlier. Just about every state in the union has a burglars' tools law:
AB 2015 (Corbett)
Page 2



PURPOSE

The purpose of this bill is to add ceramic spark plug chips of
pieces to the list of items that may be defined as burglary
tools when possessed with the intent to commit burglary.

Existing law makes the possession of a picklock, crow, keybit,
crowbar, screwdriver, vise-grip plier, water-pump plier,
slidehammer, slim jim, tension bar, lock pick gun, tubular lock
pick, floor-safe door puller, master keys, or other instrument
or tool with the intent to break into any building, railroad
car, vessel, or vehicle a misdemeanor punishable by up to six
months in county jail, or a fine not to exceed $1,000, or both.
(Pen. Code 466.)

Existing law makes the possession of a key, tool, instrument,
explosive, or device, or a drawing, print, or mold of a key,
tool, instrument, explosive, or device designed to open, break
into, or damage a coin-operated machine with the intent to
commit theft from such machine punishable by up to one year in
county jail, or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by both.
(Pen. Code 466.3.)

Existing law provides that every person who, with the intent to
use it in the commission of an unlawful act, possesses a motor
vehicle master key, or a motor vehicle wheel lock master key, is
guilty of a misdemeanor. (Pen. Code 466.5, subd. (a).)

Existing law provides that every person who, with the intent to
use it in the commission of an unlawful act, possesses a motor
vehicle key with knowledge that the key was made without the
consent of either the registered or legal owner is guilty of a
misdemeanor. (Pen. Code 466.7.)

Existing law provides that every person who enters any house,
room, apartment, shop, store, warehouse, or other building,
vessel, aircraft, railroad car, trailer coach, camper, or
vehicle with the intent to commit theft or any felony is guilty
of burglary. (Pen. Code 459.)

Last edited by Ayatollahgondola; 01-29-2010 at 07:44 PM.
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