Legal Definitions - simple robbery

Simple robbery refers to the basic form of robbery, which involves taking property directly from another person's possession or immediate presence, against their will, by using force or by putting them in fear. What distinguishes "simple robbery" from more serious forms, often called "aggravated robbery," is the absence of additional factors such as the use of a deadly weapon, the infliction of serious bodily injury, or other circumstances that would increase the severity of the crime. It focuses on the core act of taking property from a person through direct coercion, without these aggravating elements.

• Example 1: A person is walking down a sidewalk, engrossed in their phone. An assailant quickly approaches from behind, shoves them slightly to create an imbalance, and snatches their phone directly from their hand before running away. The victim sustains only a minor scrape from the shove, and no weapon was displayed or implied.

  Explanation: This illustrates simple robbery because the phone (property) was taken directly from the victim's person through the use of physical force (the shove and snatch), causing fear or overcoming resistance, but without a deadly weapon or serious physical injury.

• Example 2: A customer is leaving a grocery store with a bag of groceries. Another individual blocks their path, verbally demands the bag, and then forcefully pulls it from the customer's grasp after a brief struggle. The individual does not display any weapon and only uses physical force to take the bag.

  Explanation: This is simple robbery because the bag of groceries (property) was taken from the customer's immediate possession by direct physical force and intimidation (blocking path, verbal demand, forceful pull), without the involvement of a weapon or serious harm.

• Example 3: While a person is sitting at an outdoor cafe, an individual approaches their table, leans in close, and quietly but firmly states, "Give me your watch, or you'll regret it." Fearing a confrontation, the person removes their watch and hands it over. The individual then walks away without displaying any weapon or causing physical injury.

  Explanation: This demonstrates simple robbery as the watch (property) was taken directly from the victim's immediate presence through intimidation and implied threat, causing the victim to surrender the property out of fear, but without the use of a weapon or actual physical injury.