Can a burglary be considered complete if someone is home asleep during the incident?

A burglary is generally defined as unlawfully entering a structure with the intent to commit theft or another crime. The key factor in determining whether a burglary is complete is the unauthorized entry into a building, regardless of whether the occupants are present or awake.

If someone enters a property without permission, the act of breaking and entering itself qualifies as burglary. The sleep status of a resident does not negate the occurrence of the crime; the unlawful entry has already happened. As such, the presence of a person asleep in the home does not prevent the crime of burglary from being considered complete.

Valuables being taken or the occupant waking up may influence the severity of the charges or the circumstances surrounding the incident, but they do not determine the fundamental nature of the act of burglary itself. Thus, it is accurate to affirm that the crime can still be classified as complete, even in the scenario where someone is home asleep.