Penal Code 466: The Law For Possession Of Burglary Tools Explained

California law under penal code 466 pc prohibits anyone from possessing certain tools that experience by law enforcement has shown to be instruments routinely used by thieves for breaking into a car, home or other structure.

It is not illegal to possess these tools so long as there is no evidence, or not enough evidence, to show criminal intent.

Definition Of Possession Of Burglary Tools

Penal Code 466 lists over 15 kinds of tools that are commonly used in illegally gaining entry or access to a car or structure¹.

Burglary Tools Include The Following:

1. Picklock
2. Crowbar
3. Screwdriver
4. Slim Jim
5. Master key
6. Tension bar
7. Floor safe door puller
8. Slide hammer
9. Vise grip pliers
10. Lock pick gun
11. Tubular lock pick
12. Bump key
13. Ceramic or porcelain spark plug chips
14. Crow
15. Keybit

Are There Any Other Tools That Are Considered Burglary Tools?

This list is not exhaustive but the code does provide that any other tool or instrument that can achieve unauthorized entry be considered a burglary tool.

Many tools that a handyman or hobbyist might have in a garage or workshop fit these descriptions but a burglar may possess some or all of these or have altered or attempted to alter or make any of these tools.

Mere possession has to be coupled with felonious or criminal intent to be convicted under California Penal Code 466.

How Does The Proscutor Prove Possession Of Burglary Tools

Before you can be convicted of possession of burglary tools, the DA needs to prove that you:

• Possessed, made, altered or attempted to make or alter any of the tools listed in the code or other tools that can be used to gain entry into a structure or car And
• With the intent to commit a burglary

Burglary is found in PC 459 and is defined as entering a building or car with the intent to commit a felony or petty theft once you gain entry.

A Prosecutor Needs Criminal Intent + Burglary Tools For A Conviction

If a person is found in a car or building without the consent of the owner and is in possession of any of these tools, then intent to commit a burglary or other crime may be inferred.

Criminal Intent Can Be Inferred From Items In Your Car

You can be stopped in your car for violating a traffic ordinance and if the officer sees these tools in plain view or has probable cause to search your car and finds them, it will at least offer some suspicion.

But evidence of your criminal intent can be strengthened if the officer also finds ski masks, binoculars, a blueprint of a building, various keys, plastic beer wrap containers (for restraint), masking tape and dark clothing.

These other items are typically used to surreptitiously approach a car or building, to know where to go after gaining entry and to restrain anyone who is unfortunate enough to be present.

Example of Criminal Intent Combined With Burglary Tools

Another illustration of criminal intent is one where officers observe a young man on a hot summer night wearing a hood, dark clothing and carrying box cutters, picklock, gloves, a rock and wire looking into homes or cars and attempting to open a window or garage or who is tapping on a house or car window with the rock.

But if the man is found just walking on the sidewalk with the cutters, then more evidence would probably be needed to show criminal intent.

Can You Be Convicted Of PC 466 Based On Circumstantial Evidence?

Many convictions under PC 466 are based on circumstantial evidence that the defendant possessed these tools with the intent to effectuate illegal entry.

What Is Circumstantial Evidence?

Circumstantial evidence is not direct evidence of a crime but is an inference or series of them that lead to a certain reasonable conclusion.

This includes fingerprints found on a firearm used to commit robbery, gunshot residue found on a suspected shooter’s hand or damage to an alleged hit and run suspect’s car that infers it was in an accident and that it hit the victim’s motor vehicle.

The law makes no distinction between direct and circumstantial evidence for the trier of fact to consider.

Penalties Under Penal Code 466

Penal Code 466 PC – Possession of burglary tools is not a felony, it is a misdemeanor. It carries a penalty of:

Penalty	Misdemeanor
Fine	Up to $1,000
Probation	0-3 years summary probation
Jail	Up to 6 months in county jail

Many defendants are charged with both possession of burglary tools and burglary.

Burglary is categorized as first or second degree and can be a misdemeanor or a felony.

If you are convicted of both, a court will typically sentence you on the burglary charge and stay the Penal Code 466 conviction.

Defenses to Possession of Burglary Tools

There are defenses that can be used to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence or to show lack of intent to commit a burglary.

1. The tools are not listed under PC 466 and are not commonly used to gain entry into a building or car. These items may be used as common household accessories or for innocent activities and include masking tape, binoculars or cell phones.
2. Lack of criminal intent. Merely possessing any of the tools is not sufficient to prove intent. If you did have any of the other accessories that could be used for surveillance, lookout, to restrain people or to show the layout of a building, then criminal intent can be inferred.
3. You have no criminal history.
4. Violation of search and seizure laws. Law enforcement must either have your consent to search you or your car, possess a search warrant, observe these tools in plain view or have probable cause to search you such as incident to an arrest. Police do perform searches without your consent, overreach the scope of a search warrant or unlawfully arrest or detain you.

Record Expungement of PC 466 Conviction

Although a misdemeanor conviction under Penal Code 466 PC does not normally present the same obstacles or restrictions on civil liberties, job seeking and housing, it can still be a deciding factor in whether you get hired, promoted or obtain a lease.

Under California Penal Code 1203.4, a criminal conviction may be expunged so long as you did not serve any time in state prison. Since PC 466 is a misdemeanor with no state prison time imposed, a conviction of this code section should qualify it for expungement if you also meet these other conditions:

• Completed all terms and conditions of your probation
• Have no criminal charges pending
• Have not reoffended

An expungement is a record clearing process. It does not destroy your court records and it does remain on the FBI and other databases but is not for accessible to the general public.

Its main benefit is that no member of the general public, including private employers and landlords, girlfriends, boyfriends or anyone other than law enforcement or government agencies will see that you were ever convicted of the offense.

You can apply for expungement the day after your probation ends. There is an exception in cases where no probation was imposed so that you must wait one year from the date of your conviction.

Related Crimes

There are numerous other offenses relating to PC 466 pertaining to the tools identified in this code section.

PC 466.1 – Selling or Providing lock picks, tension bars or floor safe door pullers

These tools are of course intended to be used to gain entry, legally or not, into buildings or cars.

If you sell or give away or allow someone to borrow any of these items, the law requires you to retain a receipt of the transaction for one year.

The writing must contain the name and address or phone number of the person to whom the items were given or sold and that person’s signature.

Your failure to do so constitutes a misdemeanor and carries county jail time up to 6 months, a fine up to $1,000 or informal probation for one to three years under California Penal Code 466.1².

PC 466.3(a) – Possession of tools to tamper with coin-operated machines

Under penal code 466.3 certain tools are used to open or tamper with vending machines, old pinball machines, coin-operated washing machines or parking meters so as to extricate the coins inside.

Possession coupled with intent can get you convicted of this misdemeanor which carries up to one year in county jail, a fine to $1000 or probation of a year to 3 years³.

PC 466.5(a) – Possessing or manufacturing motor vehicle master keys

Motor vehicle master keys or motor vehicle wheel lock master keys are legal to possess so long as you have no criminal intent while you are in possession.

It is a crime to sell, advertise for sale or manufacture these items unless the buyer or user employs them for work. In other words, know the person to whom you are selling these keys or you could be convicted of a misdemeanor and 6 months in county jail and a fine up to $1000 under penal code 466.5⁴.

Possession of tools to bypass a factory installed motorcycle ignition

Motorcycles are much easier to steal than passenger cars because of their size and weight but even if they are too heavy, there are tools that can start the bikes without the normal keys.

If you possess, sell, lend or give away a device that can bypass the normal ignition process and that can start the machine, then you have violated this code section.

It also pertains to wire cutters, electrical tape, allen wrenches or other tools that can be used to steal the motorcycle, then possession or the lending of these items for that purpose is also a misdemeanor under this section.

Penalties are no more than 6 months in jail and a fine of no more than $1000.

PC 466.7 – Unlawful possession of motor vehicle keys

You cannot possess the keys to someone else’s car without their consent so long as you also had the intent to steal the car or to break into it. It is a misdemeanor with punishment of up to 6 months in jail and a fine not exceeding $1000 under penal code 466.7⁵.

PC 466.8 – Unlawful manufacture of residential or commercial keys

Although you can make, give away or sell a key for a home or business by a method involving an onsite inspection, you are required to keep a receipt containing the name and identifying information of the recipient of the key for 2 years along with that person’s signature.

This section is inapplicable to the making of duplicate keys.

Violation of this section is a misdemeanor with jail time not to exceed 6 months and a fine of up to $1000 under penal code 466.8⁶.

PC 466.9 – Possessing or using code grabbing device to disarm the security alarm system of a vehicle

Under penal code 466.9, you are barred from using or even possessing a device that can disarm a car alarm if used or intended to be used to gain unlawful entry or to steal the vehicle. These devices capture the signal and play it back to disarm it.

A violation is a misdemeanor⁷ with no more than 6 months in county jail and a fine up to $1000.

1. California Penal Code 466 – Every person having upon him or her in his or her possession a picklock, crow, keybit, crowbar, screwdriver, vise grip pliers, water-pump pliers, slidehammer, slim jim, tension bar, lock pick gun, tubular lock pick, bump key, floor-safe door puller, master key, ceramic or porcelain spark plug chips or pieces, or other instrument or tool with intent feloniously to break or enter into any building, railroad car, aircraft, or vessel, trailer coach, or vehicle as defined in the Vehicle Code, or who shall knowingly make or alter, or shall attempt to make or alter, any key or other instrument named above so that the same will fit or open the lock of a building, railroad car, aircraft, vessel, trailer coach, or vehicle as defined in the Vehicle Code, without being requested to do so by some person having the right to open the same, or who shall make, alter, or repair any instrument or thing, knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used in committing a misdemeanor or felony, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any of the structures mentioned in Section 459 shall be deemed to be a building within the meaning of this section. [↩]
2. California Penal Cpde 466.1 – Any person who knowingly and willfully sells or provides a lock pick, a tension bar, a lock pick gun, a tubular lock pick, or a floor-safe door puller, to another, whether or not for compensation, shall obtain the name, address, telephone number, if any, date of birth, and driver’s license number or identification number, if any, of the person to whom the device is sold or provided.  This information, together with the date the device was sold or provided and the signature of the person to whom the device was sold or provided, shall be set forth on a bill of sale or receipt.  A copy of each bill of sale or receipt shall be retained for one year and shall be open to inspection by any peace officer during business hours. Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. [↩]
3. California Penal Code 466.3(a) – Whoever possesses a key, tool, instrument, explosive, or device, or a drawing, print, or mold of a key, tool, instrument, explosive, or device, designed to open, break into, tamper with, or damage a coin-operated machine as defined in subdivision (b), with intent to commit a theft from such machine, is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both. (b) As used in this section, the term “coin-operated machine” shall include any automatic vending machine or any part thereof, parking meter, coin telephone, coin laundry machine, coin dry cleaning machine, amusement machine, music machine, vending machine dispensing goods or services, or moneychanger. [↩]
4. California Penal Code 466.5(a) - Every person who, with the intent to use it in the commission of an unlawful act, possesses a motor vehicle master key or a motor vehicle wheel lock master key is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) Every person who, with the intent to use it in the commission of an unlawful act, uses a motor vehicle master key to open a lock or operate the ignition switch of any motor vehicle or uses a motor vehicle wheel lock master key to open a wheel lock on any motor vehicle is guilty of a misdemeanor. (c) Every person who knowingly manufactures for sale, advertises for sale, offers for sale, or sells a motor vehicle master key or a motor vehicle wheel lock master key, except to persons who use such keys in their lawful occupations or businesses, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (d)  As used in this section: (1) “Motor vehicle master key” means a key which will operate all the locks or ignition switches, or both the locks and ignition switches, in a given group of motor vehicle locks or motor vehicle ignition switches, or both motor vehicle locks and motor vehicle ignition switches, each of which can be operated by a key which will not operate one or more of the other locks or ignition switches in such group. (2) “Motor vehicle wheel lock” means a device attached to a motor vehicle wheel for theft protection purposes which can be removed only by a key unit unique to the wheel lock attached to a particular motor vehicle. (3) “Motor vehicle wheel lock master key” means a key unit which will operate all the wheel locks in a given group of motor vehicle wheel locks, each of which can be operated by a key unit which will not operate any of the other wheel locks in the group. [↩]
5. California Penal Code 466.7 — Motor vehicle keys; possession; knowledge of making without consent; misdemeanor. (“Every person who, with the intent to use it in the commission of an unlawful act, possesses a motor vehicle key with knowledge that such key was made without the consent of either the registered or legal owner of the motor vehicle or of a person who is in lawful possession of the motor vehicle, is guilty of a misdemeanor.” [↩]
6. California Penal Code 466.8 – Any person who knowingly and willfully makes a key capable of opening any door or other means of entrance to any residence or commercial establishment for another by any method involving an onsite inspection of such door or entrance, whether or not for compensation, shall obtain, together with the date the key was made, the street address of the residence or commercial establishment, and the signature of the person for whom the key was made, on a work order form, the following information regarding the person requesting or purchasing the key: (1) Name. (2) Address. (3) Telephone number, if any. (4) Date of birth. (5) Driver’s license number or identification number, if any. A copy of each such work order shall be retained for two years and shall be open to inspection by any peace officer or by the Bureau of Collection and Investigative Services during business hours or submitted to the bureau upon request. Any person who violates any provision of this subdivision is guilty of a misdemeanor. (b) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the duplication of any key for a residence or commercial establishment from another such key. (c) Locksmiths licensed by the Bureau of Collection and Investigative Services are subject to the provisions set forth in Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 6980) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code. (d) The provisions of this section shall include, but are not limited to, the making of a key from key codes or impressions. [↩]
7. California Penal Code 466.9(a) – Every person who possesses a code grabbing device, with the intent to use it in the commission of an unlawful act, is guilty of a misdemeanor. [↩]