Forcible entry
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- Forced entry redirects here; for the band Forced Entry, see Forced Entry (band).
Forcible entry is the act of entering a house or building with destructive methods. It is typically illegal. Police, firefighters, and EMTs may need to forcibly enter a building in an emergency. If they must do so, means of entry range from the simple breaking of a glass window to the use of specialized tools to defeat security locks or to cut an access hole.
Emergency Services typically rely on a number of different devices to force entry to a building or vehicle. Prying tools, such as Halligan bars and crowbars are common, though SWAT Teams may use explosives such as C2 explosives to quickly breach doors and windows. Alternately, if a less forceful entry is dictated, tools such as Slim Jims or one of a variety of lock picking tools may be used to enter buildings or vehicles.
Related crimes include malicious destruction of property (e.g., the damaged door/window/locks), and possession of burglary tools.
Forcible entry is distinguishable from the broader crime of "breaking and entering" which might not include any actual damage from the force used to "break" a way in, such as when one opens an unlocked door to private premises without license to do so, or tampers with a locking mechanism and later takes advantage of the defect. As such, one can assume that the "breaking" refers to breaking the plane of entry; that is, crossing the threshold of a door, window or other entryway into a building.
