Theft is a crime of dishonesty and involves taking the property of another person whilst not intending to give them it back.
A person commits theft if they dishonestly take property belonging to another intending to permanently deprive them of it.
Burglary occurs when a person enters a building or part of a building without permission and steals items from inside. For many people, this means someone has entered their house without permission and stolen their property.
A person commits burglary when they enter part of a building as a trespasser with the intention of:
The burglary doesn't have to occur in just a house itself. Reports of thefts from gardens, outbuildings, sheds and garages are an issue too – particularly in rural areas - and will also be treated as burglary.
If you suspect you are being burgled, you should call 999 straight away and wait in a safe place for help to arrive. Do not enter your property if there is a chance the suspect is still inside
If you have had an item of property stolen or witnessed a theft you can report it to the police on-line or by calling 101.
You can also use immobilise to register stolen electrical items including mobile phones and iPads.