What legal term describes the act of breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony?

Burglary is the legal term that describes the act of breaking and entering into a building or structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft inside. This crime emphasizes not only the unlawful entry aspect but crucially includes the intent to engage in further criminal activity once inside.

In contrast, trespassing typically refers to the act of entering someone's property without permission, which does not necessarily involve intent to commit a crime inside the property. Larceny pertains specifically to the unlawful taking and carrying away of someone else's personal property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it, making it focused on the theft itself rather than the act of breaking in. Robbery involves taking property from a person or their immediate possession through force or intimidation, which is distinctly different from entering a property with the intent to commit a felony.

Thus, the definition of burglary aligns precisely with the question asked, particularly due to the requirement of both breaking and entering and the intent to commit a felony.