Robbery is a violent crime that involves force or the threat of force to take property from another. Because of this, it is considered a more serious form of theft than larceny or other lesser crimes like shoplifting and pickpocketing. If you are convicted of Robbery in the first degree or the second degree, you will face state prison time depending on the circumstances.
Robberies involve the use of physical force or the threat of force to take money and other personal property from a victim. It is a felony offense in most jurisdictions and is punished much more harshly than less serious theft crimes such as burglary or theft by taking. Many states have separate schemes for varying levels of violence and/or robbery (such as armed robbery or simple robbery).
The specific elements of a robbery are force, threat, and intent to deprive the victim permanently of property. Robbery is a felony under federal law and it can also be classified as a gang-related offense under some states’ laws.
Criminal slang for robbery includes “blagging” (a bank robbery) and a “stickup” or armed robbery. Robbery is a violent crime that can lead to a long prison sentence, especially if you have any previous felony convictions on your record or if you committed robbery with an armed weapon.
Robbery is a crime of opportunity, meaning that the offender might not have planned to commit the robbery in advance but was prompted by immediate circumstances. Nevertheless, even street robberies that appear to be impulsive are seldom entirely unplanned, as offender know which tactics work in which situations based on their prior experience. For example, pay routines of workers paid in cash might influence robberies near quick-loan stores, gas stations or off-track betting parlors that are frequented on paydays.
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