Penal Law § 160.00

Robbery; defined · as in force on May 31, 2026

§ 160.00 Robbery; defined.

Robbery is forcible stealing. A person forcibly steals property and commits robbery when, in the course of committing a larceny, he uses or threatens the immediate use of physical force upon another person for the purpose of:

1. Preventing or overcoming resistance to the taking of the property or to the retention thereof immediately after the taking; or

2. Compelling the owner of such property or another person to deliver up the property or to engage in other conduct which aids in the commission of the larceny.

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/160.00

In plain English

Robbery is forcible stealing: while committing larceny, a person uses or threatens immediate physical force to:

(1) prevent or overcome resistance to taking or immediately keeping the property; or
(2) compel the owner or another person to surrender the property or help the larceny. ★

Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.

In print

This provision appears in Volume 4 — The Court Clerk: Penal Law; Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 3 — The Court Officer: Penal Law; Volume 3 — Your Career: Penal Law in Plain English.