Why is robbery a violent crime

For example, a person who shoves a college student walking home from a bar and steals the student's cell phone out of his or her hand has committed robbery. So has a seventh grader who threatens other students on the playground with beatings if they do not give up their milk money. Person or presence. Taking something from the victim's person or presence just means that the victim is there when the robbery occurs.

So, physically taking an object out of the victim's hands can constitute robbery. The robbery occurs in the victim's presence if the person who controls the property is nearby when the theft occurs. For example, a person who steals a wallet out of a woman's purse hanging on the back of her seat in a restaurant steals from the victim's presence. A person who locks a store clerk in the backroom in order to steal from the cash register also takes something from the victim's presence.

But, a person who steals a bike from someone's front porch when no one is home has not stolen from the victim's person or presence, and therefore has not committed robbery, only theft and possibly burglary. Force or violence. Robbery is also distinct from theft because the defendant must use or threaten force or violence. Knocking a person down or pulling something out of someone's hands are both examples of force. While state law varies, the following may be considered using force or violence:.

The threat does not have to be stated explicitly. For example, it could be considered force or violence for a person to motion to his pocket, suggesting he is carrying a gun. In many states, robbery is divided into categories such as first degree and second degree, or aggravated and simple , depending on the seriousness of the offense. Or, different types of robbery may be set forth in different statutes.

More serious types of robbery might include:. Both objects designed to be used as weapons, such as clubs, and everyday objects that are used in a way that could seriously hurt someone, such as a brick used to hit a person in the head, can be considered deadly weapons in most states. Sometimes, robberies committed by people who are armed with firearms are punished more severely than robberies committed by people armed with other deadly weapons. For more information on robbery using weapons, see Armed Robbery.

All types of robberies are serious crimes. Robbery is almost always a felony , punishable by at least one year in prison, regardless of the value of the items taken. Most states punish aggravated robbery quite harshly, including armed robbery, carjacking, and home invasion robbery. Sentences of ten or 20 years in prison or more are common.

If you are charged with robbery, no matter what type, you should talk to a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can explain the legal process to you and determine the best course of action to follow depending on the charges against you, the law in your state, and how your case is likely to be treated by the local judge and prosecutor. Robbers on the street strike suddenly with a threatening pose that allows the victim no time to think how to escape or stop the robbery.

Most victims hand over what is demanded. Robbers are generally rational or reasonable individuals who commit their crime after deciding what type of person, where, and how they will rob and get away with their crime. Individual targets are often those who do not look like they will fight back such as elderly men or women.

People in poor neighborhoods are frequently targeted as they are more likely to carry cash than those in more affluent neighborhoods where credit cards are preferred to cash.

Staking out victims at cash machines is common. Convenience stores and gas stations open late at night are also favorite targets.