Legal Definitions - reif

Reif is a term used in Scots law to describe the crime of robbery. It refers to the unlawful taking of property from another person, or from their immediate presence, by means of force, violence, or threats of harm, against that person's will.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of reif:

• Example 1: Convenience Store Hold-Up

  An individual enters a convenience store, brandishes a knife, and demands that the cashier hand over all the money from the till. Fearing for their safety, the cashier complies. This act would be considered reif because money (property) was taken from the cashier's possession through the use of a threat of force (the knife) and against the will of the store and its employee.

• Example 2: Street Mugging

  While walking home, a person is suddenly pushed to the ground by an assailant who then snatches their backpack and runs away. This scenario constitutes reif because the backpack (property) was forcibly taken from the victim through physical violence (being pushed) and without their consent.

• Example 3: Carjacking

  A driver is stopped at a traffic light when another person opens the car door, pulls the driver out of the vehicle, and then drives off with the car. This is an instance of reif because the car (property) was taken from the driver's immediate control and possession through the application of physical force and against the driver's will.