Housebreaking (8)
I believe the answer is:
burglary
'housebreaking' is the definition.
(I know that housebreaking can be written as burglary)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for burglary that I've seen before include "Home invasion" , "Entering a building unlawfully with intent to steal" , "Criminal entry" , "break-in" , "Illegal entry and theft" .)