Crime Types
Robbery
Definition: The taking or attempted taking of anything of value from a person by force, threat of force, or by putting the victim in fear.
In Detail
Robbery is classified as a violent crime rather than a property crime because it involves direct confrontation with the victim and the use or threat of force. This distinguishes robbery from burglary (which involves unlawful entry) and larceny-theft (which involves no force or confrontation). The national robbery rate was approximately 73 per 100,000 in 2023, making it less common than aggravated assault but more common than murder. Robbery rates tend to be higher in densely populated urban areas, partly because there are more targets of opportunity and more anonymity for offenders in crowded settings. The FBI further breaks robbery down by location type — street/highway robberies, commercial robberies, residential robberies, bank robberies, and convenience store robberies — each with different patterns and risk factors. Robbery has seen significant long-term declines since the early 1990s, driven in part by reduced cash transactions, better surveillance technology, and other environmental changes. When comparing robbery rates across cities, it is important to consider the urban-rural divide, as rural communities almost always have lower robbery rates regardless of other crime factors. CrimeContext includes the robbery rate as a component of the overall violent crime rate used in Safety Context Score calculations.
Related Terms
Offenses that involve force or the threat of force against a person, including murder, robbery, aggravated assault, and rape.
The unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft, regardless of whether force was used to gain entry.
The unlawful taking of property from another person without the use of force, violence, or fraud — the most common crime in America.
The number of crimes per 100,000 residents in a given area, allowing fair comparison between communities of different sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Robbery" mean in crime statistics?
The taking or attempted taking of anything of value from a person by force, threat of force, or by putting the victim in fear.
Why is robbery important for understanding crime data?
Robbery is classified as a violent crime rather than a property crime because it involves direct confrontation with the victim and the use or threat of force. This distinguishes robbery from burglary (which involves unlawful entry) and larceny-theft (which involves no force or confrontation). The national robbery rate was approximately 73 per 100,000 in 2023, making it less common than aggravated assault but more common than murder.