Which of the following best describes the difference between burglary and robbery?

• A. Burglary involves breaking and entering a structure at night with intent to commit a crime inside; robbery involves taking property from a person by force, intimidation, or threats.
• B. Burglary requires taking property from a person; robbery requires breaking and entering.
• C. Burglary is theft of animals; robbery is theft of property.
• D. Burglary is only a felony; robbery is a misdemeanor.

Answer: (C)

The difference being tested is whether the crime targets entering a structure versus taking from a person. Burglary focuses on unlawfully entering a building with the intent to commit a crime inside (often theft). Robbery, by contrast, is about taking property directly from a person or in the person’s presence through force, intimidation, or threats, so the victim is involved and there’s immediate confrontation.

The description that best captures this distinction says burglary involves breaking and entering a structure at night with the intent to commit a crime inside, while robbery involves taking property from a person by force, intimidation, or threats. The other statements don’t fit: burglary does not require taking property from a person, and robbery does not require breaking and entering. Also, whether something is a felony can vary by jurisdiction, so treating one as always a felony and the other as always a misdemeanor isn’t accurate.