Burglary was defined as breaking into a dwelling-house in the night under Victoria’s Criminal Law and Practice Statute 1864 (breaking in at other times being defined as housebreaking). It carried a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. However, burglary with wounding, that is committing an assault in the course of committing a burglary, carried a death sentence. Under Victoria’s Crimes Act 1958, this was lowered to 20 years imprisonment. Today burglary carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment in Victoria, and aggravated burglary carries a maximum of 25 years imprisonment.

Further information:

Piper, Alana. “Victimization Narratives and Courtroom Sexual Politics: Prosecuting Male Burglars and Female Pickpockets in Melbourne, 1860–1921.” Journal of Social History 51, no. 4 (2018): 760-83.