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'Can I shoot them?': Arizona laws blurry on what you can do to a home intruder

Arizona law allows people to defend themselves from intruders, but the conditions can be blurry.

PHOENIX — People are looking to protect themselves and their homes after recent burglaries targeting the Valley.

Scottsdale police said more than 130 "dinnertime burglaries" have been reported around the Valley. About 33 of those reports are from Scottsdale.

Some residents want to know how far they can go to protect their homes.

"Most questions went along the lines of 'Can I shoot them?'" Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther said.

RELATED: As 'dinnertime burglaries' continue to plague Scottsdale, residents crackdown on security

Legal experts said the answer isn't simple.

Arizona law allows people to use deadly force to protect themselves only if they are physically threatened first.

"If you feel like they're a threat or they're coming to attack you on your property or inside your home, the law allows you to defend yourself and use physical force or even deadly force," attorney Benjamin Taylor said.

There are some exceptions.

A resident cannot shoot someone on their property just because they're stealing.

"In Arizona, you never get to use deadly physical force to protect property," Marc Victor, the owner of Attorneys for Freedom, said.

The threat of significant harm or death has to be toward you or another person and cannot be verbal.

"You have to at least be able to articulate that there's an imminent threat of death or serious physical injury," Victor said.

Victor said imminent is defined as "right now" or "it's about to happen."

Plus, the force cannot be excessive.

"You never get to use more force than is reasonably necessary to repel that attack," Victor said.

Victor said if someone unlawfully uses deadly force, there would be consequences.

"You're going to be looking at a very serious felony that's definitely going to carry mandatory prison," Victor said.

A new bill in the legislature would expand Arizona's current Castle Doctrine, essentially allowing Arizonans to shoot anyone who trespasses on their land. It's intended to protect ranchers and farmers who may have several acres of property. 

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