Home invasion

Home invasion is the crime of entering a private and occupied dwelling, with the intent of committing a crime and often while threatening the resident. It is a legally defined offense in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, and applies even if entry is not forced. It can even apply if someone is invited into a home and remains on the premises after being asked to leave by the resident.

Related Topics:
Crime - United States - Australia - New Zealand

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Home invasion differs from burglary. Burglary is illegal entry into any occupied or unoccupied building, with intent to commit a felony, often theft. Home invasion sometimes involves several criminals, whereas burglary tends to be performed by a single perpetrator.

Related Topics:
Burglary - Theft

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Home invasion may be accompanied by other crimes. The invaders may follow their victims home, commit breaking and entering, and are sometimes intent on assault, robbery, or rape.

Related Topics:
Breaking and entering - Assault - Robbery - Rape

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According to an Oxford English Dictionary (OED) draft entry for March 2004, the first published usage of the term in its modern sense is a November 1973 article in the Chicago Sun-Times. The OED also cites a use of the term in the 1989 novel Toxic Shock (ISBN 0575043725) by Sara Paretsky.

Related Topics:
Oxford English Dictionary - Chicago Sun-Times - 1989 novel - Toxic Shock - Sara Paretsky

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A now-rare earlier use of the term, dating to the 1850s, meant any violation of a country's homeland security.

Related Topics:
1850s - Homeland security

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