What additional component does a robbery involve compared to a theft?

Robbery is distinct from theft due to the element of violence associated with it. In essence, robbery not only involves taking someone else's property but does so with the use or threat of force. This means that the perpetrator can either physically harm the victim or intimidate them in such a way that they feel their safety is at risk. This inherent threat of violence elevates robbery to a more serious crime than theft, which does not involve such confrontational or aggressive tactics.

The presence of violence, or the immediate threat of it, increases the severity of the offense and reflects a more dangerous interaction between the offender and the victim. This critical distinction is key to understanding the legal definitions and implications of these two types of property crimes, where theft might occur without any confrontation or force, while robbery involves an aggressive act that makes it a violent crime.