How are robbery and theft different?

Individuals have possessions that can have great value to them. Whether they are sentimental items or prized possessions due to a higher value, they can be of a great monetary value. This can cause them to work hard to earn the money they need to buy the item they want. When they buy an item, they are putting their hard-earned money into it. They do not want to see this item be stolen or broken. If their item is stolen, they can be uncertain of its whereabouts. New York State takes crimes very seriously and aims to hold all individuals who commit crimes accountable for breaking the law. When crimes become violent, they have a more serious charge and can have harsher penalties.

When an individual is charged with stealing from another party, they may be faced with a wide variety of charges and consequences that can affect their life. Simple theft is a charge that can be given when one party steals from another without the use of force. This means that a weapon was not involved in the robbery. This typically is the case in instances of shoplifting, where no one is harmed or threatened during the event of the theft. The consequences associated with theft are often related directly to the value of the item that was stolen. When items are valued at a higher price, the charge may be more serious since the possession is worth more money.

When the individual who steals property does so by using force or threatening to use force against the victim, the crime is considered to be a robbery. Robberies are categorized by the following actions during the attempted theft of property, threatening or actually killing an individual, the use or display of a deadly weapon, threatening or harming other parties to intimidate the intended victim and attempting or threatening to harm a victim. Violence involved in the situation can have harsher consequences for the individual that is being charged. Since they could have harmed someone, it puts others’ lives at risk.

Kevin T. Conway has over 30 years of experience as a Spring Valley criminal attorney handling DUI, DWI, traffic violations, violent crimes, sex crimes, illegal gun possession, shoplifting, and juvenile crimes. Attorney Conway is also experienced in commercial law matters, zoning law, and estate planning. If you need a Rockland County criminal lawyer, contact our Spring Valley office for a free consultation.