Possession of burglary tools requires what intent from the defendant?

The correct answer is that possession of burglary tools requires the intent to commit burglary or trespass. This means that the defendant must have the purpose of using those tools in the commission of a burglary or to unlawfully enter a property with the intention of committing a crime therein.

In legal terms, burglary generally involves entering a building or structure without permission, with the intent to commit a crime, typically theft. When someone possesses tools that are specifically designed for breaking into buildings, this suggests they may have the intention to engage in such criminal activity. Thus, evidence of intent to use the tools for burglary or trespassing is pivotal for a conviction.

The other answer choices reflect different criminal intents. The intent to commit a robbery suggests a focus on theft with additional violence or coercion, which does not directly align with the specific offense of possessing burglary tools. Selling the tools represents a commercial intent, which is unrelated to the actual use of those tools for illegal entry or burglary. Finally, the intent to vandalize property is likewise not relevant, as it pertains to deliberately damaging property rather than unlawfully entering for theft or other felons. Therefore, the clear correlation between possessing burglary tools and the intent to commit burglary or trespass is what validates the correct choice in this