Robbery is a serious felony offense with substantial jail time and fines. It is generally considered a more serious crime than other forms of theft such as burglary and shoplifting because it involves the use of force or fear. This makes it a “person” crime rather than a property crime, and also distinguishes it from burglary in that a person must be present to commit a robbery.
At common law, robbery was defined as the unlawful taking, with intent to deprive another of it permanently, of personal property from the possession or immediate presence of that other, against their will and accomplished by force or fear. It is a subcategory of larceny.
Many states have separate laws that define robbery. For example, California has first- and second-degree robbery laws. First-degree robbery applies in specific circumstances such as robbing an inhabited dwelling, robbing the driver or passenger of a vehicle or robbing someone who is using an ATM machine. Second-degree robbery includes all other robberies that don’t fit into the first-degree categories.
A conviction of robbery is a serious crime that will have an impact on your life, and it’s important to seek the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. A knowledgeable attorney can explain the legal process to you, determine your best options, and advise whether you should try to get the charges against you reduced or dismissed, plea bargain with the prosecution, or go to trial.