ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 379 OF THE FRENCH CRIMINAL CODE AND CURRENT JUDICIAL PRACTICE, THEFT CONSTITUTES A COMBINATION OF FOUR CIRCUMSTANCES: THE REMOVAL OF THE OBJECT, THE MOVABILITY OF THE OBJECT, THE FACT THAT THE OBJECT BELONGS TO A DIFFERENT OWNER, AND THE OFFENDER'S FRAUDULENT INTENT. ATTEMPTED THEFT, COMPLICITY, AND THE EXISTENCE OF AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES (ESPECIALLY THE INVOLVEMENT OF WEAPONS) ARE CONSIDERED SPECIAL MODIFICATIONS WHICH INFLUENCE THE DURATION OF THE SENTENCE. ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 381, THE CONJUNCTION OF THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES IS PUNISHABLE BY LIFE IMPRISONMENT: (1) THE THEFT WAS COMMITTED AT NIGHT, (2) TWO OR MORE OFFENDERS WERE INVOLVED, (3) THE OFFENDERS FORCEFULLY BROKE INTO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE, (4) VIOLENCE WAS INVOLVED, AND (5) THE OFFENDERS PROCURED A MOTOR VEHICLE FOR THE PURPOSE OF LEAVING THE SCENE OF THE CRIME. POLICE ADVISE BURGLARY VICTIMS TO LEAVE EVERYTHING UNTOUCHED, CALL THE POLICE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, NOTIFY BANKS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND CHANGE LOCKS. THE TYPICAL BURGLAR IS AN OCCASIONAL OFFENDER WHO CAREFULLY SELECT HIS VICTIMS, AN OFFENDER WHO USES RUSES TO GAIN ACCESS TO A HOUSE, AND A VANDAL FOR WHOM THE DAMAGE INFLICTED IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE THEFT. THE PREFERRED MEANS OF ACCESS FOR BURGLARS IS STILL THE DOOR. A VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS ARE USED BY PROFESSIONALS TO BREAK DOORS: THE JIMMY, THE BIT-BRACE, THE LOCKAID PISTOL, AND SKELETON KEY. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. --IN FRENCH