Breaking and entering is a serious criminal offence under section 348 of the Criminal Code. A person commits this offence when they enter a place without authorization, either with the intent to commit a criminal offence inside or by actually committing a criminal offence after entering.entre dans un lieu sans autorisation, soit avec l’intention d’y commettre une infraction criminelle, soit en y commettant effectivement une infraction après l’entrée.
The offence focuses on how and why the entry occurred, not just whether property was damaged or something was stolen.pas nécessaire qu’un vol ait lieu ni qu’il y ait des dommages matériels importants pour que l’infraction soit constituée.
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Under section 348(1) of the Criminal Code, a person commits breaking and entering if they:
The intended or completed offence may include theft, assault, mischief, or another criminal act.
For the purposes of breaking and entering, the law defines a “place” broadly. It includes:
A dwelling-house (such as a home or apartment);
A building or structure that is not a residence;
A railway vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or trailer;
A park or enclosure where animals are kept for commercial purposes.
Different penalties apply depending on whether the place is a dwelling-house or another type of location.maison d’habitation ou un autre type d’endroit.
The Criminal Code gives these terms a wide interpretation. A person is considered to have entered a place as soon as any part of their body, or any tool or instrument they are using, is inside the place. Full entry is not required.
A break occurs when entry is gained:effraction notamment lorsque l’entrée est obtenue :
Importantly, no physical damage is required. Opening an unlocked door or window without permission can still amount to breaking and entering.
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The law allows the court to presume criminal intent from the act of breaking and entering itself. This does not shift the burden of proof onto the accused.présumer l’intention de commettre un acte criminel à partir du seul fait de l’introduction par effraction.
The accused does not have to prove innocence, but may offer a credible explanation to raise a reasonable doubt about their intent at the time of entry. If the explanation raises doubt, the presumption may be rebutted.ne force pas l’accusé à prouver son innocence. Il peut toutefois présenter une explication crédible afin de soulever un doute raisonnable quant à son intention réelle au moment de l’entrée.
To convict a person of breaking and entering, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that:
The accused entered a place without authorization;sans autorisation;
The entry involved a “break” as defined by law;par effraction au sens de la loi;
At the moment of entry, the accused intended to commit a criminal offence, or that they actually committed an indictable offence inside; and
Any presumed intent has not been successfully rebutted by contrary evidence.
Breaking and entering should not be confused with the separate offence of being unlawfully in a dwelling-house (section 349 of the Criminal Code).présence illégale dans une maison d’habitation (art. 349 C.cr.).
That offence applies where a person is found inside a dwelling without lawful excuse and with intent to commit an indictable offence, even if there is no clear “break.” While related, the offences carry different legal requirements and sentencing ranges.
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An individual forces open a rear window of a house and reaches inside to unlock the door. Police arrive before anything is stolen.
Even though no property is taken, the act of entering the residence without permission, combined with the inferred intent to commit a criminal offence, is sufficient to establish breaking and entering under section 348.
Penalties depend on the type of place involved.
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When a break and enter involves an occupied residence, the court must treat this as an aggravating factor if the offender:maison d’habitation occupée, le tribunal doit considérer comme circonstance aggravante le fait que l’accusé :
Courts treat these cases particularly seriously because of the heightened risk to personal safety
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