Robbery is a theft crime that includes the use or threat of force to compel another person to give up their property. Unlike other theft crimes, it’s often classified as a violent offense and carries harsher penalties upon conviction. If you’re facing a robbery charge, it’s important to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney to help protect your rights.
Successful armed robberies require offenders to confront their intended victims directly. This makes them a particularly risky and challenging sort of street crime, as the victims’ attempts to flee may expose them to retaliation or even further violence.
Consequently, offenders seek to make their stick-ups as clear and certain as possible for their victims by clearly announcing their intentions to take property. They also strive to establish dominance over their intended prey, imposing a set of terms on their interactions. As one of the offenders put it, they must dramatize with unarguable clarity that “a robbery is now taking place” (Katz, 1988: 176).
Most of the offenders interviewed for this study believed that their best weapon was announcing the robbery with a gun, which often obviated the need to do much talking. They also recognized that a gun was a good way to create a sense of urgency, which helped compel victims to part with their property. If you’re a victim of a robbery, you could be eligible for compensation from the Victorian government. Contact the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal to find out more about applying for restitution.
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