The criminal offense of robbery generally involves the taking of property from another person, in the presence of the other person, by violence, intimidation, or threat of imminent bodily injury or death, and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the property. And in some states the crime of robbery can become the more serious crime of aggravated robbery (with increased potential punishments) if the person exhibits a deadly weapon such as a gun or knife, or causes great bodily injury or death, for example.

Robbery is a felony offense punishable by significant jail or prison time. Laws regarding robbery offenses are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Missouri, robbery is defined under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 569.020. It is considered a second-degree robbery when a person forcibly steals property and in the course of committing the theft, they use or threaten the immediate use of physical force upon another person for the purpose of preventing resistance to the taking of the property or compelling the owner of the property to deliver it up. Second-degree robbery is a class B felony in Missouri. However, the offense escalates to first-degree robbery, a class A felony, if the person is armed with a deadly weapon, causes serious physical injury to any person, or threatens or displays what appears to be a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument. Aggravated robbery, involving the use of a deadly weapon or causing serious injury, carries more severe penalties, including longer prison sentences. The specific penalties for robbery offenses in Missouri can vary based on the circumstances of the crime and the criminal history of the offender.