What term classifies the crime of illegally entering a building with the intent to commit theft or another crime?

The term that classifies the crime of illegally entering a building with the intent to commit theft or another crime is burglary. This offense is defined as not only the act of breaking into a property but also carrying the intent to commit a further criminal act inside, such as theft, assault, or vandalism.

Burglary is characterized by the unlawful entry of a structure, typically a dwelling, with the specific intention of committing a crime once inside. This distinction is crucial because simply entering a building without intent to commit a crime may not meet the legal criteria for burglary.

While breaking and entering can refer to the physical act of unlawfully entering a location, it does not encapsulate the intent aspect, which is a vital element of burglary. Trespassing involves unlawfully entering or remaining on someone else's property but lacks the intent to commit a crime once inside. Theft refers specifically to the act of taking someone's property, which is only one potential outcome of a burglary but not the act of illegal entry itself.