December 1, 2017 Police departments often rely on dogs to help track down crime suspects. Dogs are intelligent and have excellent hearing and a good sense of smell, all which can help police officers put suspects behind bars. A K-9 unit in Kitsap County helped law enforcement catch a burglary suspect. The dog, named Heiko, spent four hours through the night searching for a Seattle man who attempted to burglarize The Southworth Grocery Store, located in Port Orchard. The alarm at the store went off at 1:39 a.m. on November 9 and alerted Kitsap County Sheriff deputies. The K-9 and his handler were able to catch the 25-year-old suspect four hours later. This was not the man’s first brush with the law. He already had a misdemeanor warrant for a crime he committed in Port Orchard. He also had a $100,000 felony warrant from King County for domestic violence and burglary. He is now in custody at Kitsap County Jail and facing another burglary charge. Theft vs. Burglary Theft and burglary are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they are different in some ways. Burglary involves entering a structure, such as a home or place of business, with the intent of committing of a crime. A person can be charged with burglary even if the crime was not committed or if nothing was stolen. It is also called breaking and entering. When a person steals a piece of property without entering a building, then it is considered theft. Theft would include, for example, stealing a kid’s bicycle from the driveway. Theft is also called larceny and actually has to be committed in order for someone to be charged with a crime. Burglary is a crime more serious than theft. Second degree burglary—which involves entering a building other than a home—is considered a Class B felony under RCW 9A.52.030. It is punishable by 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Get Help for Your Criminal Case Burglary is more serious than theft and often leads to felony charges. Such an offense can result in serious penalties and ruin your criminal record. Don’t fight your case alone. The criminal defense lawyers at the Nahajski Firm can offer a solid defense to help reduce your penalties or even eliminate your charges altogether. Find out more by scheduling a free consultation. Contact the Nahajski Firm today at (206) 621-0500.