Florida Crimes When Someone Uses a Remote/Computer to Break Into a Home, Car, or Safe

This Story out of California, got me thinking what the penalties would be in Florida.

Using a remote or computer to unlawfully access property typically triggers multiple overlapping Florida statutes, depending on (1) the target (home, vehicle, safe), and (2) the method (digital hacking, signal interception, electronic bypassing).

Below are the most commonly charged offenses.

1. Burglary – § 810.02, Florida Statutes

Florida defines burglary broadly. A person commits burglary if they:

“Enter a dwelling, structure, or conveyance with the intent to commit an offense therein, unless the premises are at the time open to the public or the defendant is licensed or invited to enter.”
— §810.02, Fla. Stat.

Important: “Entry” includes remote entry

Florida courts have held that entry can be constructive, NOT only physical.
If someone uses a remote hacking device that opens a door, garage, window, or hatch, the law treats it as an entry.

Charge levels:

• Burglary of a Dwelling – 2nd-degree felony (up to 15 years)

• Burglary of a Conveyance (vehicle) – 3rd-degree felony (up to 5 years)

• Burglary with an Explosive or Dangerous Device – 1st-degree felony

• Armed Burglary – Life felony

Even if they never step foot in the property, remotely opening it with intent to commit theft is burglary.

2. Breaking Into a Vehicle – § 810.02(4) & § 810.011(3)

Florida defines vehicles as “conveyances,” including:

• Cars

• Trucks

• Boats

• Aircraft

Using a remote or electronic device to unlock a vehicle = burglary of a conveyance.

Penalty: 3rd-degree felony
(Up to 5 years prison + 5 years probation + $5,000 fine)

3. Computer-Related Crimes (“Hacking”) – Chapter 815, Florida Statutes

If someone uses a computer, remote, signal repeater, hacking tool, RFID interceptor, or digital bypass, prosecutors often charge crimes under Florida’s Computer Crimes Act:

§ 815.06 — Offenses Against Computer Users

It is illegal to:

• Access any computer, system, or network without authorization

• Interfere with data or programs

• Engage in electronic intrusion

• Use a device to perpetrate a fraud

Penalties:

• Unauthorized access – 3rd-degree felony

• Causing damage, fraud, or theft – 2nd-degree felony

• If targeting protected systems (government, utility) – 1st-degree felony

This applies even if the access is only digital and no property was physically entered.

4. Theft – § 812.014, Florida Statutes

If the goal is stealing:

• Keys

• Car

• Contents in a car

• Items inside a home or safe

…the act constitutes theft.

Penalties depend on the value:

• Petit theft (<$750)

• Grand theft (>$750)

5. Grand Theft Auto / Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle

§ 812.014(2)(c)6 — Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle

This is the statute you asked for.

A person commits grand theft if they:

“Steal a motor vehicle.”
— §812.014(2)(c)6, Fla. Stat.

Penalty: 3rd-degree felony

Important:
The method of theft does not matter.
Whether they hotwire the vehicle, use a signal repeater, or hack into the keyless entry system, it is still grand theft auto.

6. Possession of Burglary Tools – § 810.06

If someone uses or possesses a digital device designed to break into homes, cars, or safes — such as:

• RFID relay device

• Code grabber

• Remote hacker

• Digital lock bypass device

• Laptop with “brute force” software

• Electronic skeleton key

— they may be charged with possession of burglary tools, a 3rd-degree felony.

The statute covers any tool used in the commission of burglary, not just physical tools.

7. Criminal Mischief – § 806.13

If the digital break-in damages:

• Electronic locks

• Alarm systems

• Vehicle computers

• Cameras

• Safes

…Florida can charge criminal mischief.

Penalties depend on damage amount:

• <$200 – 2nd-degree misdemeanor

• $200–$1,000 – 1st-degree misdemeanor

• $1,000 – 3rd-degree felony

8. Trespass – § 810.08 / § 810.09

If prosecutors cannot prove “intent to commit a crime,” they often fall back to trespass charges.

Using a remote or unlocking device to:

• Enter a yard (curtilage)

• Enter a home without consent

• Enter a vehicle without consent

…is trespass.

Trespass in a dwelling: 3rd-degree felony
Trespass in a vehicle: 2nd-degree misdemeanor

9. Safecracking – Using Tools to Open a Safe – § 810.11

Florida has a specific crime for using tools to open safes, including digital or electronic devices:

Possession of tools “adapted, designed, or commonly used” to force or open a safe
— §810.11, Fla. Stat.

This includes:

• Electronic lock bypass devices

• Hacking devices

• Digital decoding tools

Penalty: 3rd-degree felony

10. Fraud / Unauthorized Access Devices – § 817.568

If the person uses:

• Cloned keys

• Hacked codes

• Digital “access devices”

• Stolen passwords

…it may also fall under criminal use of personal identification information, depending on the data used.

Penalties can reach:

• 3rd-degree felony

• 2nd-degree felony (if money/property obtained)

• 1st-degree felony (if over $100,000 or 30+ victims)

Contact Our Criminal Lawyer if You've been Charged  in Palm Beach, Broward, Dade or Martin County

If you were arrested for one of the criminal charges mentioned above, do not plead guilty just to “get it over with.”

Contact us online or call our office today for a confidential consultation with our experienced and proven criminal defense attorney, Matthew Konecky.