A cat burglar is a thief who sneaks into homes undetected to steal personal property, but can also steal from other buildings. The term can also refer to any burglar who enters unauthorized property with the intent to steal or vandalize. The term may not apply to thieves who use violence or lack stealth. Catwoman is a fictional example of a cat burglar. In the US, cat burglars risk being sentenced to life in prison under the three strikes law.
While the technical definition is more inclusive, a cat burglar generally refers to a burglar who breaks into homes to steal personal property. Cats are stealthy and silent, they approach their prey without alarm, they pounce without warning. Cat burglars are burglars who sneak in undetected, taking what he wants before the victim knows what happened. He could also steal from outbuildings such as sheds, barns or garages, cars, boats, planes, trains, churches or schools.
In a broader sense, a cat burglar is simply a burglar, primarily associated with burglary – a legal term. This doesn’t require the thief to break anything to get inside. Slipping through an open door or window is also considered burglary. Anyone entering unauthorized private or commercial property with the intent to steal or vandalize may be considered a cat burglar, even if the person fails to steal or vandalize.
A criminal who drives a truck through a convenience store window to steal an ATM is also a thief, but “cat burglar” may not be the most appropriate term. A group of unruly teenagers who gather in an abandoned building to party loudly and vandalize the property are also burglars, but without the stealthy, silent aspect associated with the term it becomes a misnomer. However, a cat burglar may be associated with violence, including beatings or rape that may occur during the commission of the crime.
Those familiar with the Batman series or comic might remember the character, Catwoman. Catwoman was a Robin Hood-tinged cat burglar. She stole the lucky ones to stay alive on the seedy streets of the fictional Gotham City, often sharing her bounty with the less fortunate. She has at times aligned forces with Batman, the character of hers who walks the gray line between villain and anti-hero.
In reality, a cat burglar in the United States runs the risk of becoming a victim of the three strikes law, sometimes referred to as the habitual offenses law. Anyone convicted of three felonies is automatically sentenced to life in prison.
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