robbery

/ˈrɑbəri/

/ˈrɒbəri/

Other forms: robberies

A person who steals money from a convenience store by claiming to have a gun under his shirt is guilty of robbery, or using a violent threat to take something that doesn't belong to him.

Whether a criminal wields a weapon or just threatens to hurt someone while stealing from that person, he is committing robbery. Robbery is different from burglary — breaking into a house or building to steal — because it involves a threat of danger to a person. Carjackings, stick-ups, and muggings are all different kinds of robbery.

Definitions of robbery

1. noun

   larceny by threat of violence
   types:

   armed robbery, heist, holdup, stickup

   robbery at gunpoint

   caper, job

   a crime (especially a robbery)

   dacoity, dakoity

   robbery by a gang of armed dacoits

   heist, rip-off

   the act of stealing

   highjacking, hijacking

   robbery of a traveller or vehicle in transit or seizing control of a vehicle by the use of force

   highway robbery

   robbery of travellers on or near a public road

   rolling

   the act of robbing a helpless person

   buccaneering, piracy

   hijacking on the high seas or in similar contexts; taking a ship or plane away from the control of those who are legally entitled to it

   type of:

   larceny, stealing, theft, thievery, thieving

   the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
2. noun

   plundering during riots or in wartime
   synonyms: looting

   type of:

   pillage, pillaging, plundering

   the act of stealing valuable things from a place