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Illinois Compiled Statutes

720 ILCS 5/19-2 (2026)

Possession of burglary tools

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(720 ILCS 5/19-2) (from Ch. 38, par. 19-2)
    Sec. 19-2. Possession of burglary tools.
    (a) A person commits possession of burglary tools when he or she possesses any key, tool, instrument, device, or any explosive, suitable for use in breaking into a building, housetrailer, watercraft, aircraft, motor vehicle, railroad car, or any depository designed for the safekeeping of property, or any part thereof, with intent to enter that place and with intent to commit therein a felony or theft. The trier of fact may infer from the possession of a key designed for lock bumping an intent to commit a felony or theft; however, this inference does not apply to any peace officer or other employee of a law enforcement agency, or to any person or agency licensed under the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. For the purposes of this Section, "lock bumping" means a lock picking technique for opening a pin tumbler lock using a specially-crafted bumpkey.
    (a-5) A person also commits possession of burglary tools when he or she, knowingly and with the intent to enter the motor vehicle and with the intent to commit therein a felony or theft, possesses a device designed to:
        (1) unlock or start a motor vehicle without the use
    
or possession of the key to the motor vehicle; or
        (2) capture or duplicate a signal from the key fob
    
of a motor vehicle to unlock or start the motor vehicle without the use or possession of the key to the motor vehicle.
    (b) Sentence. Possession of burglary tools is a Class 4 felony.
(Source: P.A. 102-903, eff. 1-1-23.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1994–2025 · leading case: People v. Lozano, 2022 IL App (1st) 182170, 207 N.E.3d 283.
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People v. Lozano, 2022 IL App (1st) 182170, 207 N.E.3d 283. “See 720 ILCS 5/19-2(a) (West 2018). ¶ 67 We find that the evidence sufficiently supported defendant’s burglary conviction.”
People v. Palen, 2016 IL App (4th) 140228, 64 N.E.3d 181. · cites it 2× “Prior to the trial’s evening recess, the trial court swore eight jurors. Before trial resumed the next day, Tharp’s father died.”
People v. One 2005 Acura RSX, 2017 IL App (4th) 160595, 77 N.E.3d 783. · cites it 2× “The complaint sought forfeiture solely on the basis of the vehicle having been used in the commission of the offense of possession of burglary tools (720 ILCS 5/19-2 (West 2014)) on June 22, 2015, and June 29, 2015.”
United States v. Edward Davis, 16 F.3d 212 (7th Cir. 1994). “” See 720 ILCS 5/19-2 (“A person commits the offense of possession of burglary tools when he possesses any key, tool, instrument, device, or any explosive, suitable for use in breaking into a building .”
People v. Palen, 2016 IL App (4th) 140228, 64 N.E.3d 181. · cites it 2× “OPINION ¶1 Following a September 2012 incident at a Springfield apartment building, the State charged defendant, Scott Palen, with attempt (residential burglary) (720 ILCS 5/8-4(a), 19-3(a) (West 2010)) and possession of burglary tools (720 ILCS 5/19-2(a) (West 2010)).…”
People v. One 2005 Acura RSX, 2017 IL App (4th) 160595. · cites it 2× “The complaint sought forfeiture solely on the basis of the vehicle having been used in the commission of the offense of possession of burglary tools (720 ILCS 5/19-2 (West 2014)) on June 22, 2015, and June 29, 2015.”
People v. Henson, 2017 IL App (2d) 150594. · cites it 3× “Henson, appeals from his conviction of two counts of burglary (720 ILCS 5/19-1(a) (West 2014)) and one count of possession of burglary tools (720 ILCS 5/19-2 (West 2014)). Defendant raises three issues on appeal: (1) whether the trial court properly refused defendant’s proposed…”
People v. Henson, 2017 IL App (2d) 150594, 91 N.E.3d 941. · cites it 3× “Henson, appeals from his conviction of two counts of burglary ( 720 ILCS 5/19-1(a) (West 2014)) and one count of possession of burglary tools ( 720 ILCS 5/19-2 (West 2014) ). Defendant raises three issues on appeal: (1) whether the trial court properly refused defendant's…”
People v. Axelson, 2015 IL App (2d) 140173. “10-CF-905, defendant was charged with two counts of burglary and one count of possession of burglary tools (720 ILCS 5/19-2(a) (West 2010)). In case No.”
People v. Axelson, 2015 IL App (2d) 140173, 23 N.E.3d 1287. “10-CF-905, defendant was charged with two counts of burglary and one count of possession of burglary tools (720 ILCS 5/19-2(a) (West 2010)). In case No.”
People v. Isaacson, 2023 IL App (5th) 200121-U. “Possession of IV Burglary Tools 3/31/2018 720 ILCS 5/19-2(a) 4 3 yrs. 1 yr. Unlawful 364 days Possession of Drug 720 ILCS V Paraphernalia 3/31/2018 600/3.”
People v. Walker, 2025 IL App (5th) 250174-U. “Background ¶4 On October 30, 2024, the State charged defendant by information with one count of theft over $500 (720 ILCS 5/16-1(a)(4) (West 2024)), a Class 3 felony; one count of methamphetamine possession (720 ILCS 646/60(a) (West 2024)), a Class 3 felony; and one count of…”
Show all 14 citing cases →
720 ILCS 5/19-2(a): 10 cases
People v. Lozano, 2022 IL App (1st) 182170, 207 N.E.3d 283. “See 720 ILCS 5/19-2(a) (West 2018). ¶ 67 We find that the evidence sufficiently supported defendant’s burglary conviction.”
People v. Palen, 2016 IL App (4th) 140228, 64 N.E.3d 181. “Prior to the trial’s evening recess, the trial court swore eight jurors. Before trial resumed the next day, Tharp’s father died.”
People v. Palen, 2016 IL App (4th) 140228, 64 N.E.3d 181. “OPINION ¶1 Following a September 2012 incident at a Springfield apartment building, the State charged defendant, Scott Palen, with attempt (residential burglary) (720 ILCS 5/8-4(a), 19-3(a) (West 2010)) and possession of burglary tools (720 ILCS 5/19-2(a) (West 2010)).…”
People v. One 2005 Acura RSX, 2017 IL App (4th) 160595, 77 N.E.3d 783. “The complaint sought forfeiture solely on the basis of the vehicle having been used in the commission of the offense of possession of burglary tools (720 ILCS 5/19-2 (West 2014)) on June 22, 2015, and June 29, 2015.”
People v. One 2005 Acura RSX, 2017 IL App (4th) 160595. “The complaint sought forfeiture solely on the basis of the vehicle having been used in the commission of the offense of possession of burglary tools (720 ILCS 5/19-2 (West 2014)) on June 22, 2015, and June 29, 2015.”
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