When you are arrested and charged with burglary, you must understand that this is a felony. No two ways about it; there are no "misdemeanors" where burglary is concerned. If there are additional crimes attached the burglary charge, then the case against you becomes even more serious. As you sit down with burglary offense law services and a criminal defense lawyer, you will discuss these charges. In layman's terms, here are burglaries with additional charges attached in the order of least to greatest severity.

Burglary of an Unlocked Warehouse or Commercial Storage Building

The crime of burglary of any non-residential or privately-owned building is a lesser offense than burglary of a house or an outlying building on private property. The sentence you receive, if convicted, still involves jail time, but it is less time given than if you broke into someone's garage. The only things that can change the weight and length of your sentence is if you carried a weapon and/or you injured or killed someone with said weapon while burgling the building.

Burglary of a Garage or Private Storage Shed

This is attempting, or succeeding in, the breaking and entering of a privately-owned garage or storage shed. Recent laws have made theft from these buildings a greater felony than it once was. Ergo, if you are accused of trying to steal someone's riding lawnmower or power tools, the jail time is greater than if you tried to burgle a warehouse down on the docks. 

Burglary of a Private Residence

This is considered the most serious of burglaries. Sentences can be several decades long, depending on what other crimes are attached. If you are shot, stabbed, or maimed by the homeowner, you have no rights to sue the homeowner in almost every state in the country. If you attempt to use a weapon to defend yourself while in the act of burgling someone's home, you may also face criminal charges for assault and battery, attempted homicide, or homicide if you "accidentally" kill the homeowner and try to claim self-defense.

Breaking and Entering Charges vs. Trespassing

Breaking and entering charges attached to burglary means that you smashed a window, broke a lock, etc., in order to get inside the structure. Trespassing means that you found the place unlocked and entered without the owner's permission. Even if you claim that you heard someone calling for help or in distress, you cannot enter a home. It is a punishable offense, regardless of whether burglary was your intent or not.