No matter the charges, facing a criminal conviction can be overwhelming and intimidating for anyone. If you face accusations or charges for taking someone else’s property, it helps to understand what distinguishes robbery from a theft charge.

After all, robbery carries more severe penalties than simple theft.

What constitutes theft?

Theft is the act of taking something that does not belong to you. For example, if someone takes money out of another person’s purse or shoplifts, he or she may face accusations of theft. Theft does not have to involve another person, just the other person’s property. Depending on the value of the property and how the defendant carries out the crime will impact the overall theft charge.

What makes a crime robbery?

You can commit theft while committing robbery, but you do not have to commit theft. Generally, robbery involves theft, but the main difference between robbery and other crimes that involve stealing is that robbery is a crime against another person. For example, if someone steals a bike from the side of the road, he or she commits theft. However, if someone steals the bike while someone rides it, he or she may face robbery and theft charges.

Robbery includes threats of violence or intimidation to steal someone’s property. You do not have to complete the theft to face charges of robbery. Take the bike example, for instance; if someone threatens to steal from the rider but he or she manages to escape or if the person does not make good on the threat, he or she may still face robbery charges.

Regarding robbery, the more violence involved, the higher the penalty.