Legal Definitions - stickup

A stickup, also commonly referred to as a holdup, describes a specific type of robbery where an individual takes property from another person by using force or by threatening them with a weapon. The defining characteristic is the presence and use of a weapon to intimidate the victim into complying with the demands.

Here are some examples to illustrate this legal term:

• Example 1: Convenience Store Robbery
  A masked individual enters a convenience store, points a handgun at the cashier, and demands that all the money from the register be placed into a bag. The cashier, fearing for their life, complies with the demand.

  Explanation: This situation is a stickup because the perpetrator used a weapon (the handgun) to threaten the cashier and forcibly take money, demonstrating the core elements of armed robbery and intimidation.

• Example 2: Street Mugging
  While walking alone at night, a pedestrian is suddenly approached by an assailant who holds a knife to their back and demands their wallet and smartphone.

  Explanation: This scenario exemplifies a stickup because a weapon (the knife) was used to threaten the victim, compelling them to surrender their personal belongings under duress.

• Example 3: Home Invasion
  Two intruders break into a residence, and upon encountering the homeowner, one of them brandishes a crowbar, ordering the homeowner to lead them to the safe where valuables are kept.

  Explanation: This constitutes a stickup as the intruders used a weapon (the crowbar) to threaten the homeowner and coerce them into revealing the location of their property, fitting the definition of an armed robbery involving a threat.