Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against rights of property - Robbery and blackmail

234: Robbery

You could also call this:

“Taking someone's stuff by using force or scaring them is called robbery and it's against the law.”

Robbery is when someone steals something and uses violence or threats of violence to do it. This violence or threat can be against a person or property. The person might use it to force someone to give up their stuff or to stop them from protecting their things.

If you commit robbery, you can go to prison. The longest time you might have to stay in prison for robbery is 10 years.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM330250.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal law

233: Being disguised or in possession of instrument for burglary, or

“Having tools for breaking in or wearing a disguise to do something illegal is against the law.”

235: Aggravated robbery, or

“Stealing from someone while hurting them badly, working with others, or using a weapon”

Part 10 Crimes against rights of property
Robbery and blackmail

234Robbery

Robbery is theft accompanied by violence or threats of violence, to any person or property, used to extort the property stolen or to prevent or overcome resistance to its being stolen.
Every one who commits robbery is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

Compare

1961 No 43 s 234

Notes

Section 234: replaced, on 1 October 2003, by section 15 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).