Why is burglary treated as a minor crime?

[R1Geezer]

I consider it a very serious invasion of personal space/property, a virtual rape. Some of the victims are traumatised permanently, often having to move. Yet our courts treat it like shop lifting. To get jailed a criminal has to have dozens under the belt. So why as a society can we not lock this scum up for longer?

[ludwig]

Flipping heck, last time I looked this thread was alot shorter. I just wanted to reply to a point Quinlad made ages ago..

//But in of itself it's not going to leave you eating through a tube. //

..No but it can leave you with a mental illness - phobia, inability to sleep, debilitating loss of confidence etc - screw you up pretty badly.