Robbery is defined under section 343 of the Criminal Code. Section 343 reads as follows:
Every one commits robbery who
- steals, and for the purpose of extorting whatever is stolen or to prevent or overcome resistance to the stealing, uses violence or threats of violence to a person or property;
- steals from any person and, at the time he steals or immediately before or immediately thereafter, wounds, beats, strikes or uses any personal violence to that person;
- assaults any person with intent to steal from him; or
- steals from any person while armed with an offensive weapon or imitation thereof.
Robbery is different from theft because it includes the involvement of violence or threats of violence. A standard example of robbery is where a perpetrator holds a bank teller at gun point and demands money. However, by virtue of its definition in the Criminal Code, a robbery charge can also be made out when the perpetrator threatens violence against someone in order to complete the theft without ever actually drawing a weapon.
Robbery is an indictable offence and comes with severe penalties. For instance, in situations where a firearm is used during the commission of a robbery, one can be convicted for a minimum punishment of imprisonment for a term of four years.
If you have been charged with Robbery in BC, contact us for a consultation.