{"id":374165,"date":"2018-02-12T18:05:56","date_gmt":"2018-02-12T23:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/michigan-law\/michigan-robbery-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-02-14T14:10:15","modified_gmt":"2018-02-14T19:10:15","slug":"michigan-robbery-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/michigan-law\/michigan-robbery-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Michigan Robbery Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Michigan Robbery Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

When you take someone’s property with the intent to deprive the owner of their property rights, it’s considered a larceny or a theft<\/a>. When you add the element of violence, force, intimidation, or threats, then the offense constitutes robbery<\/a>. Because the additional element of force and violence brings potential for death or great bodily injury, robbery is treated as a more serious offense than theft.<\/p>\n

All robbery crimes in Michigan are classified as felonies. A major distinction in robbery offenses is whether the offense included a weapon of some sort since the presence of a weapon elevates the charges of the crime. For example, an individual who pushes a person and violently grabs her purse out of her hands has committed an unarmed robbery. What happens if instead of just grabbing the woman’s purse, the individual points a gun at her and demands the purse? The latter offense is considered an armed robbery because of the inclusion of the gun and carries stricter penalties than an unarmed robbery.<\/p>\n

Michigan Robbery Laws at a Glance<\/h2>\n

The chart below provides a summary of statutes related to Michigan’s robbery laws, including links to important code sections.<\/p>\n\n

Statutes<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Penalties<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Robbery<\/i>: Anyone who is in the process of committing a larceny (theft) and uses force or violence against the person present, assaults the person, or puts the person in fear is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years. The crime includes acts that occur:<\/p>\n

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  • During the attempt of a larceny<\/li>\n
  • During the larceny itself<\/li>\n
  • After flight or fleeing or attempt to flee the scene of the larceny<\/li>\n
  • When trying to retain possession of the property<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Armed Robbery<\/i>: Armed robbery carries a penalty of a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. This offense combines robbery coupled with the robber committing the following actions:<\/p>\n

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    • Possesses a dangerous weapon; or<\/li>\n
    • Uses an article in a way that leads a person to reasonably believe that the article is a dangerous weapon; or<\/li>\n
    • Says that they have a weapon or otherwise represents that they have a weapon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Carjacking<\/i>: Anyone who commits larceny of a motor vehicle with the use of force or puts the driver, passenger of the car in fear, is guilty of a felony punishable by a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Possible Defenses<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Entrapment<\/li>\n
  • Duress<\/li>\n
  • Mistaken identity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Related Offenses<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n