What does the act of "breaking" imply in a burglary context?

In the context of burglary, the term "breaking" refers to the act of exerting physical force to gain entry into a structure. This can involve a variety of actions such as smashing a window, kicking down a door, or using tools to bypass locks. The key aspect of "breaking" is that it signifies an unlawful entry that is accomplished through force, which is crucial to meeting the legal definitions associated with burglary.

While entering without physical force or using a key might allow access to a property, such actions do not fit the description of "breaking" as understood in legal terms relating to burglary. Instead, these actions may fall under categories of lawful entry. Similarly, simply opening an already unlocked door does not involve the use of force and therefore doesn’t meet the criteria associated with the act of breaking in the context of burglary. Thus, the correct interpretation of "breaking" aligns with the exertion of physical force to remove obstructions, which is a fundamental component of the crime of burglary.