IPC 445 — House-breaking

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Statutory text

A person is said to commit "house-breaking"
who commits  house-trespass if  he effects his entrance into the house or any part of it in any of the six ways hereinafter described; or if, being in  the house or any part of it for the purpose of committing an offence, or having committed an offence therein, he quits the house or any part of it in any of it in such six ways, that is to say :-
First.-If he  enters or  quits through a passage made by himself, or by any abettor of the house-trespass, in order to the committing of the house-trespass.

Sixthly.-If he  enters or  quits by any passage which he knows to have been  fastened against  such entrance  or departure,  and to have been unfastened by himself or by an abettor of the house-trespass.
Explanation.-Any out-house or building occupied with a house, and between which and such house there is an  immediate internal communication, is part of the house within the meaning of this section.
Illustrations (a) A commits house-trespass by making a hole through the wall of Z's house,  and putting  his hand through the aperture. This is house-breaking.
(b) A  commits house-trespass  by creeping into a ship at a port-hole between decks. This is house-breaking.
(c) A  commits house-trespass  by entering  Z's house  through  a window. This is house-breaking.
(d) A  commits house-trespass  by entering  Z's house through the door, having opened a door which was fastened. This is house-breaking.
(e) A  commits house-trespass  by entering  Z's house through the door, having  lifted a  latch by  putting a wire through a hole in the door. This is house-breaking.
(f) A  finds the  key of  Z's house  door, which  Z had lost, and commits house  trespass by  entering Z's house, having opened the door with that key. This is house-breaking.
(g) Z  is standing in his doorway. A forces a passage by knocking Z down,  and commits  house-trespass by  entering the  house. This  is house-breaking.
(h) Z,  the door-keeper  of Y,  is standing  in  Y's  doorway.  A
commits house-trespass  by entering  the house, having deterred Z from opposing him by threatening to beat him. This is house-breaking.

Back to IPC