CHAPTER 720, ILCS 5/ - CRIMINAL CODE DIVISION I
Also Known As: Burglary Tools, Possession of Burglary Tools, Slim Jim, Lock Picks, Bump Key

720 ILCS 5/19-2

Sec. 19-2. Possession of burglary tools.

Illinois Compiled Statute
720 ILCS 5/19-2
Offense Description
Possession of burglary tools – including device to unlock or start a motor vehicle without use/possession of key or capture/duplicate key fob signal
Offense Classification
Class 2 Felony
Statutory Penalties & Sentencing Scope
3 to 7 years IDOC (Probation eligible unless aggravated) · Fine up to $25,000
Supreme Court Rule 551 Mandatory Court Appearance
Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, personal court appearance before a judge is mandatory. The defendant cannot satisfy this charge by mail, electronic payment, or pre-set bail forfeiture.
SAFE-T Act Pretrial Detention Eligibility (725 ILCS 5/110-6.1)
Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.
Secretary of State Driver's License Action
Standard Administrative Protocol: No automatic driver's license suspension or mandatory revocation is triggered by this offense code alone upon citation.
EXECUTIVE SYNOPSIS · ILLINOIS LEGAL STANDARDS Governing Authority: ILGA & Supreme Court Rules

Under Illinois law, 720 ILCS 5/19-2 (Possession of burglary tools – including device to unlock or start a motor vehicle without use/possession of key or capture/duplicate key fob signal) is classified as a Class 2 Felony. Statutory sentencing scope: 3 to 7 years IDOC (Probation eligible unless aggravated) · Fine up to $25,000. Court appearance is mandatory under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, and pretrial release is presumptively release-eligible under the SAFE-T Act.

Offense Class & Sentencing Scope Class 2 Felony

3 to 7 years IDOC (Probation eligible unless aggravated) · Fine up to $25,000

Court Appearance Mandate Rule 551 Mandatory Court

Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, personal court appearance before a judge is mandatory. The defendant cannot satisfy this charge by mail, electronic payment, or pre-set bail forfeiture.

Pretrial Fairness Act (SAFE-T Act) Presumptive Pretrial Release

Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.

Secretary of State License Sanction Standard Administrative Protocol

No automatic driver's license suspension or mandatory revocation is triggered by this offense code alone upon citation.

Classification Class 2 Felony
Court Appearance Mandatory Court Appearance (Rule 551)
SAFE-T Act Detention Release Eligible (Conditions Apply)
SOS Reporting Code None Assigned

Associated Offense Codes & Classifications (1)

Offense Description Class Court Mandate SAFE-T Act Reporting Code Official ILGA
Possession of burglary tools – including device to unlock or start a motor vehicle without use/possession of key or capture/duplicate key fob signal Official ILGA · 720 ILCS 5/19-2 -> Class 2 Felony Rule 551 Mandate Release Eligible — ILGA.gov ->

Illinois General Assembly Statutory Text (Verbatim)

Source: ilga.gov ->

Sec. 19-2. Possession of burglary tools.

(a)

(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)

(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.)

Frequently Asked Questions & Legal Analysis

Authoritative Statutory Guidance
What is the statutory penalty and sentencing range for 720 ILCS 5/19-2 in Illinois?

Under Illinois law, 720 ILCS 5/19-2 (Possession of burglary tools – including device to unlock or start a motor vehicle without use/possession of key or capture/duplicate key fob signal) is classified as a Class 2 Felony.

Sentencing Scope: 3 to 7 years IDOC (Probation eligible unless aggravated) · Fine up to $25,000

Is a court appearance mandatory for 720 ILCS 5/19-2 under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551?

Mandatory Personal Appearance Required: Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551, personal court appearance before a judge is mandatory. The defendant cannot satisfy this charge by mail, electronic payment, or pre-set bail forfeiture.

Is an individual accused of 720 ILCS 5/19-2 detainable before trial under the SAFE-T Act?

Presumptive Pretrial Release: Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.

What Secretary of State driver's license sanctions apply to 720 ILCS 5/19-2?

Standard Administrative Protocol: No automatic driver's license suspension or mandatory revocation is triggered by this offense code alone upon citation.

Official Legal Citation Formats

Legal & Academic Reference

Standardized legal citations for briefs, court pleadings, law enforcement documentation, and academic research.

Illinois Supreme Court Citation 720 ILCS 5/19-2 (West 2026)
The Bluebook Style (21st ed.) 720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/19-2 (2026)
Canonical Web Reference https://ilcsindex.com/statutes/720-ilcs-5-19-2
Cross-Referenced ILCS Codes