Robbery refers to the theft of property with the use of or threat of force. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, an individual can face robbery charges even if their actions did not result in a completed theft; attempted robbery is also considered a chargeable offense.

Robbery may be considered a felony of the first-, second-, or third-degree as follows:

• First Degree: The accused inflicts serious bodily harm or threatens to inflict serious bodily harm. A robbery can also be considered as a felony of the first degree if the accused also commits an additional first or second-degree felony while completing or attempting the robbery.
• Second Degree: The robbery results in or poses the threat of bodily injury, though the injury does not need to be considered serious.
• Third Degree: The robbery resulted in the use of force, “however slight,” though it does not need to result in injury to be considered a third-degree felony.

§ 3701 Robbery

Per PA law, under 18, PA C.S.A 3701, an individual can be charged with robbery if they meet the following requirements:

(1)  A person is guilty of robbery if, in the course of committing a theft, he:

(i)  inflicts serious bodily injury upon another;

(ii)  threatens another with or intentionally puts him in fear of immediate serious bodily injury;

(iii)  commits or threatens immediately to commit any felony of the first or second degree;

(iv)  inflicts bodily injury upon another or threatens another with or intentionally puts him in fear of immediate bodily injury;

(v)  physically takes or removes property from the person of another by force however slight; or

(vi)  takes or removes the money of a financial institution without the permission of the financial institution by making a demand of an employee of the financial institution orally or in writing with the intent to deprive the financial institution thereof.

(2)  An act shall be deemed “in the course of committing a theft” if it occurs in an attempt to commit theft or in flight after the attempt or commission.

(3)  For purposes of this subsection, a “financial institution” means a bank, trust company, savings trust, credit union or similar institution.

In the Commonwealth, robbery of a motor vehicle, also referred to as a carjacking, car theft, or grand theft auto, refers to the forceful theft of an occupied vehicle. This is different from auto theft, which refers to the theft of an unoccupied vehicle in which the individual with lawful possession is not involved. Robbery of a motor vehicle is always considered a felony of the first degree.

§ 3702 Robbery of a Motor Vehicle

Per PA law, under 18, PA C.S.A 3702, an individual can be charged with robbery if they meet the following requirements:

(a) A person commits a felony of the first degree if he steals or takes a motor vehicle from another person in the presence of that person or any other person in lawful possession of the motor vehicle.