A 31-year-old Kearns woman faces burglary charges after allegedly breaking into her ex-boyfriend’s garage and damaging his car. The man allegedly failed to respond to the woman’s text messages so she went to his home and knocked on his front door. When no one answered, the woman allegedly broke into the garage and caused $5,000 worth of damage to the man’s car.
Authorities say that the rear window of the car was smashed and that there were multiple scratches and other damage to the car’s paint job and windshield. The woman has been charged with criminal mischief in addition to burglary.
Many people are surprised when they face burglary charges because the traditional image of a burglar is someone breaking into a house at night to commit theft. Under the Utah criminal code, a burglar is anyone who enters or remains unlawfully in a building with the intent of committing a crime such as a felony, assault, sexual battery or voyeurism.
Burglaries of business are generally third degree felonies but burglaries of dwellings are second degree felonies. Third degree felonies can carry prison terms up to five years whereas second degree felonies can carry prison terms that range from one to 15 years.
Source: Salt Lake Tribune, “Furious ex allegedly trashes former boyfriend’s ride,” Janelle Stecklein, Mar. 30, 2012