What crime is defined as the unlawful taking of property by force or threat of force?

Robbery is defined as the unlawful taking of property from another person or entity by means of force, intimidation, or the threat of force. This distinction is crucial; unlike larceny, which involves taking property without consent and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it, robbery specifically includes the element of coercion or threat.

In other words, for an act to be classified as robbery, the victim is either physically confronted or feels threatened during the theft, heightening the severity of the crime since it poses both a physical and psychological risk to the victim. This makes robbery not just a property crime, but also a violent crime, as it directly involves the confrontation between the perpetrator and the victim.

Contextually, other listed crimes, such as burglary and false pretenses, do not involve the use or threat of force against a person. Burglary focuses on illegally entering a building with intent to commit a crime inside, while false pretenses involve deceit and obtaining property under false representations. Neither encompasses the direct confrontation that characterizes robbery.