What crime is committed by damaging telephone or power lines during the commission of a burglary?

The crime of damaging telephone or power lines during the commission of a burglary is classified as a 3rd Degree Felony because it involves the destruction of property that is critical to public infrastructure. This classification reflects the severity of impairing essential services that affect the community. Burglary already involves entering a dwelling or structure with the intent to commit a crime, and when coupled with actions that damage utility lines, it escalates the severity of the crime due to the potential risks to public safety and disruption of services. Therefore, the law assigns substantial penalties to such actions, distinguishing them from lesser charges associated with other forms of property damage or misdemeanors.