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Bloom Theft Attorneys Protect Your Legal Rights

Burglary in Louisiana is defined as the unlawful entry into a structure with intent to commit a crime inside. Burglary is not necessarily the same crime as breaking and entering – a person can commit burglary by trespassing through an open door if he intends to commit a crime once inside.

If you have been arrested or charged with burglary in the state of Louisiana, you need a New Orleans theft attorney who will work to protect your legal rights as a defendant. A burglary conviction damages your record and can pose problems down the road in finding employment that is contingent on a background check.

The Difference Between Burglary and Robbery

Just as burglary is not the same crime as breaking and entering, it is also distinct from robbery. Robbery involves the use of fear, intimidation, or force to take another person’s property without that person’s consent. Burglary frequently occurs when no witnesses or victims are present to identify the perpetrator. Due to the lack of eyewitnesses, false accusations are common, and it is crucial to retain a skilled lawyer to evaluate any weaknesses or inconsistencies in the investigator’s evidence. The New Orleans theft lawyers at Bloom Legal will review the prosecution’s evidence to determine if they have enough evidence to pursue the burglary charge.

Burglary in Louisiana is Not Just the Unlawful Entry into a Home

You may also be charged with burglary in Louisiana if you have unlawfully broken into a business or a vehicle. Louisiana law recognizes several types of burglary which variously affect the severity of the charge, the probability of conviction, and the severity of the sentence. These include:

  • Residential burglary
  • Commercial burglary
  • Burglary involving the use of a deadly weapon
  • Burglary involving the entry of a vehicle, vessel, or cargo, with the intention of stealing

Within each type of burglary, the charges again vary in severity. The burglary charge and resulting sentence upon conviction will be significantly more severe if any of the following factors were present:

  • If the burglary was committed in conjunction with assault and battery
  • If the burglary was committed while in possession of a weapon or explosives
  • If the burglary caused damage to the property

Armed Robbery

In Louisiana, Armed Robbery is defined as the taking or stealing of anything of value from another person, without their consent, by the use of force or intimidation, while armed with a dangerous weapon like a gun or a knife. The severity of an armed robbery charge in New Orleans and the rest of Louisiana depends on several criteria:

  • Whether you have any prior criminal history
  • Whether you have any prior violent crime offenses
  • The type of weapon used in the alleged crime
  • Whether anyone sustained any injuries in the course of the robbery
  • The severity of those injuries
  • The value of property stolen

In the state of Louisiana, armed robbery is classified as a violent crime. Because of this classification, the consequences are much more severe for armed robbery than for other, non-violent crimes. Additionally, across the Greater New Orleans area, from St. Bernard and St. Tammany Parishes to Jefferson, St. John the Baptist, and St. Charles Parishes, local law enforcement aggressively pursues and investigates violent crimes. Between the vigorous pursuit of these crimes by law enforcement and the increased attention paid to these crimes by the media, violent crimes are the most serious type of crime with which you can be charged.

Armed Robbery Penalties

According LA R.S. 14:64, a person convicted of armed robbery will be “imprisoned at hard labor for not less than ten years and for not more than ninety-nine years, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.”

This means that if you are convicted of this crime, you will end up at Angola for at least ten years, but it could end up being for the rest of your life if people were injured during the alleged robbery or if you have any prior violent crime convictions. Additionally, you will have no hope of shortening the prison term through parole or probation, as you would with many other crimes. In short, it is absolutely imperative that you find a qualified Louisiana armed robbery attorney who will work to keep you free.

Armed robbery cases can be complicated and difficult to litigate, in addition to being aggressively pursued by investigators and prosecutors. If you have been charged with armed robbery in Lousiana, you need a skilled and knowledgeable armed robbery defense attorney. Without the help of one, you have little chance of winning your case, if it goes to trial. At Bloom Legal, we will conduct our investigation into the details of the alleged robbery to determine the most appropriate defense. Frequently, the prosecution’s eye-witnesses make mistakes and accuse the wrong person of the robbery — if this happened to you, we will investigate and find other witnesses to support your side of the story. Whatever your exact case, we will work with you to help protect your rights and your freedom.

Contact Bloom Legal New Orleans Criminal Defense Attorneys

Because many factors can influence your case, it is wise to seek a knowledgeable attorney to help you navigate the law and craft an appropriate defense. At Bloom Legal, we will work to protect your constitutionally guaranteed legal rights. Our attorneys serve clients from across Louisiana and the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner metropolitan area, including:

  • Slidell, Covington, and the rest of St. Tammany Parish
  • Chalmette and St. Bernard Parish
  • LaPlace and St. John the Baptist Parish
  • Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, and the rest of Jefferson Parish
  • Des Allemands and St. Charles Parish

Hear What Our Clients Have To Say

"I contacted Bloom Legal out of the blue with a strange question for a fiction series I’m writing that takes place in New Orleans. Being from Maryland I was in the dark and needed assistance and they jumped at the chance to help me (they were the only law firm that responded to my e-mail). His team worked quickly and carefully to find the information I needed. Because of the help they provided it changed a large aspect of my novel and for that I am very grateful."
Posted By: Sarah Perrie



(T) 504-599-9997

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  825 Girod Street
  Suite A

New Orleans, Louisiana
70113

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