FOCL Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Resource to Master Your Exam Success!

The serious offense John committed by hiding in the department store can be classified as burglary. Burglary involves unlawfully entering a building or property with the intent to commit a crime inside, which typically includes theft. In this scenario, John's act of hiding suggests he entered the store without permission and likely had the intent to engage in an illegal act, such as stealing items or committing further crimes.

In contrast, theft refers specifically to the act of taking someone else's property with the intention to permanently deprive them of it; there is no indication that John had taken any items at that moment. Robbery, on the other hand, involves taking property from a person using force or intimidation, which does not apply in this case since there was no mention of any confrontation or violence. Criminal trespass refers to entering or remaining on a property without permission, but without the intention to commit a further crime within, it does not encapsulate the seriousness implied by John's actions as burglary does. Therefore, burglary is the most appropriate classification for John's offense.