You may have heard the terms “theft” and “robbery” used interchangeably to describe property crimes. However, Maryland law treats them very differently when it comes to the level of offense, and therefore the extent of legal consequences, associated with each. Understanding these elements is critical to protecting your rights should you find yourself in this terrible position of being accused of either. With that said, please read on to discover the distinction between theft and robbery offenses and how one of the seasoned Prince George’s County theft crime lawyers at Miller Berman can help defend you against either.

What is the legal difference between theft and robbery offenses?

On the one hand, Maryland criminal law generally defines theft as the unlawful taking of someone else’s property with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. Of note, the operative word here is “intent.” Furthermore, theft is an umbrella term covering multiple types of criminal offenses, such as shoplifting, embezzlement, and obtaining property by deception.

On the other hand, Maryland considers robbery as the unlawful taking of property directly from the rightful owner by force or threat of force. This can, but does not necessarily have to, entail physical injury. The threat of injury through physical intimidation may be enough to commit this offense. To put it as simply as possible, theft may not involve violence, while robbery does.

What are the different penalties for theft versus robbery in Maryland?

As you can assume from the legal definitions explained above, robbery is considered a more serious criminal offense than theft. That is, this is the difference between always being classified as a felony (i.e., robbery) and sometimes being deemed a misdemeanor (i.e., theft). Uniquely, theft is a misdemeanor or a felony based on the property’s value. Examples are as follows:

  • Stolen property of $100 or less: misdemeanor theft punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. 
  • Stolen property of $100 to $1,500: misdemeanor theft punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.
  • Stolen property of $1,500 to $25,000: felony theft punishable by up to five years in prison and a $500 fine.
  • Stolen property of $25,000 to $100,000: felony theft punishable by up to10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
  • Stolen property of $100,000 or more: felony theft punishable by up to 25 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Then, the punishments for robbery may differ depending on whether you were found to be armed at the time of the incident. That is, simple robbery may involve up to 15 years in prison, while armed robbery may entail up to 20 years. It is worth mentioning that attempted robbery may come with the same level of penalties as a completed robbery. 

If you are being accused of theft or robbery, there is no time to waste. You must retain legal representation immediately, and we encourage you to use one of our competent Prince George’s County criminal lawyers. You will not regret your decision to choose Miller Berman, so pick up the phone and call us today.