Legal Definitions - rapina

Rapina is a legal term originating from Roman and civil law.

It describes the act of forcibly taking another person's movable property with the intent to keep it for oneself. The key elements are the use of force or threat, the taking of something that can be moved (as opposed to land or buildings), and the intention to permanently deprive the owner of that property.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of rapina:

• Imagine a situation where a person physically shoves another individual to the ground and snatches their wallet from their pocket before fleeing. This would be considered rapina because the wallet (movable property) was taken by force (shoving) with the clear intent of the perpetrator to keep it for their own use.

• Consider a scenario where a group of individuals, using intimidation and threats against a shopkeeper, enters a store and carries away valuable electronics and other merchandise. This act aligns with rapina as the goods (movable property) were seized through forceful means (intimidation, threats) with the intention of appropriating them.

• During a historical conflict, a raiding party storms a settlement, threatening its inhabitants, and drives off their livestock, such as cattle and horses. This action exemplifies rapina because the animals (movable property) were taken by force (threatening the inhabitants) with the intent to permanently acquire them for the raiders' benefit.