What differentiates robbery from theft?

Robbery is distinctly characterized by the requirement of the use or threatened use of force during the commission of the crime. This means that for an act to be classified as robbery, there must be an element of intimidation or physical coercion involved, which distinguishes it from theft. In theft, the unlawful taking of someone else's property occurs without any force or threat involved. This fundamental difference in the means employed during these two crimes is what sets robbery apart, making it a more serious offense with potentially greater penalties.

The other choices do not accurately capture the legal definitions or implications of robbery versus theft. For instance, stating that robbery can only occur in residential areas is misleading, as robbery can happen in a variety of public and private places. Similarly, asserting that theft is always a lesser crime than robbery overlooks the context of specific situations and the potential penalties involved, as the severity can depend on various factors, including the circumstances surrounding the crime.