Legal Definitions - armed robbery

Armed robbery is a serious criminal offense that occurs when an individual unlawfully takes property directly from another person, or from their immediate presence, by using force or threats, while possessing or displaying a dangerous weapon. The presence of the weapon significantly increases the potential for harm to the victim, making it a more severe crime than simple robbery.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of armed robbery:

• Example 1: A masked individual enters a small jewelry store, pulls out a handgun, and points it at the salesperson while demanding all the cash from the register and specific items from the display cases. The salesperson, fearing for their life, complies with the demands.

  Explanation: This scenario is an armed robbery because the perpetrator unlawfully took property (cash and jewelry) from the salesperson's immediate presence by using intimidation and force (pointing a handgun), and was in possession of a dangerous weapon (the handgun).

• Example 2: While walking alone at night, a person is suddenly confronted by an assailant who holds a broken bottle to their neck and demands their backpack and smartwatch. The victim, feeling threatened, hands over their belongings.

  Explanation: This illustrates armed robbery because the assailant took property (backpack and smartwatch) directly from the victim by using force and threats (holding a broken bottle to the neck), and the broken bottle, used in this manner, qualifies as a dangerous weapon.

• Example 3: Two individuals break into a home, and upon encountering the homeowner, one of them brandishes a heavy wrench, threatening to injure the homeowner if they do not reveal the location of their safe. After the safe is opened, they take its contents.

  Explanation: This is an armed robbery because the perpetrators unlawfully took property (contents of the safe) from the homeowner's immediate presence through threats and intimidation, and one of them used a heavy wrench as a dangerous weapon to coerce the homeowner.