How is burglary defined in insurance terms?

In the context of insurance, burglary is specifically defined as the forced entry into a premises with the intent to commit a felony, such as theft. This definition emphasizes not only the unlawful act of entering a space but also the intent behind that action, which must be felonious. For insurance policies, this distinction is critical because it determines liability and coverage for losses associated with such incidents.

Burglary typically requires evidence of forced entry, which can be substantiated through physical signs of entry like broken locks or doors. The presence of criminal intent to commit theft further establishes the act as burglary rather than just simple trespassing or other unlawful entry.

Other potential definitions, such as taking property without consent, are too broad and do not capture the specific elements of forced entry and felonious intent. Furthermore, taking property by fraudulent means aligns more closely with terms like fraud or theft rather than burglary, which relies on physical entry. Lastly, intentional destruction of property does not reflect the act of taking property at all, making it unrelated to the definition of burglary in an insurance context.