What is robbery?

Robbery is taking or attempting to take something of value from another by violence or the threat of violence. Robbery can be committed against individuals, businesses, and institutions like banks. It is a felony in all states. Threatening people on the streets with a baseball bat and demanding all their money and jewelry is robbery, even if the person is not injured. Pushing an elderly woman down on the sidewalk to steal her purse is also robbery. Using the same baseball bat to demand money from the till of the local 7-11 is another form of robbery.

Armed robbery involves the use of a weapon, while aggravated robbery involves the use of a deadly weapon or what appears to be a deadly weapon. If someone robs a store with a toy pistol, that will still be aggravated robbery, because the weapon appeared to be deadly. It is also aggravated robbery in some states to cause or threaten serious bodily injury or death during the commission of the robbery. For example, if the assailant describes how he intends to bash in the skull of the victim with the baseball bat, this might be aggravated robbery.

Sometimes there is a fine line between theft and robbery. If a thief snatches up a woman’s purse from a restaurant table, that is merely theft. There is no force used against her, nor the threat of force. It might even be mere theft if he slips it off her arm before she even realizes it, but if she resists even a tiny bit, it is robbery.

Case Studies: Understanding Robbery and Its Variations

Case Study 1: Violent Street Robbery

In a bustling city, Sarah, a young professional, was walking home after a late-night event. Suddenly, an assailant emerged from the shadows, wielding a baseball bat and demanding her valuables. Fearing for her safety, Sarah complied and handed over her purse, containing cash and personal belongings. The assailant swiftly grabbed the purse and fled the scene. In this case, the act of forcefully taking Sarah’s belongings through the threat of violence constituted a clear case of robbery.

Case Study 2: Aggravated Robbery With a Toy Weapon

At a neighborhood convenience store, the clerk, Mark, encountered a masked robber who pointed what appeared to be a deadly weapon at him. The robber demanded all the cash from the register, threatening to use the weapon if Mark didn’t comply. Unbeknownst to the robber, the weapon was actually a realistic-looking toy pistol. Despite the weapon being fake, the appearance of a deadly weapon elevated the offense to aggravated robbery. The threat of harm, even with an imitation weapon, carries severe legal consequences.

Case Study 3: Theft vs. Robbery

In a bustling restaurant, Lisa was having lunch, placing her purse on an adjacent chair while she ate. Seizing the opportunity, a quick-fingered thief snatched Lisa’s purse and attempted to escape unnoticed. Since Lisa didn’t notice the theft until the thief was already making a getaway, there was no force or threat of force involved. Therefore, the act fell under the category of theft rather than robbery.