Robbery in the Sunshine State is Not Rare

Here in the sunshine state, criminal cases of robbery are not rare. Thousands of Florida residents are victimized by this dangerous crime. Per Florida Crime Rates, there were 24,914 robberies in the year 2014 alone. According to the Tift County Sheriff’s Office, deputies recently responded to an armed robbery in the area of Thornhill Road and Rainwater Road. The victim of this robbery was a 16-year-old boy who was robbed at gunpoint. $80.00 was taken from him. Before officers arrived at scene, the suspect drove off. He then abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot into the area of Third Street and South Park Avenue.      

The young boy in the above case is lucky to have survived this incident. Many people do not. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a crime, contact the Miami, Florida crime victim lawyers of Gerson & Schwartz, PA a FREE consultation. We are available at (877) 475-2905 and at info@gslawusa.com. You will not owe any attorney’s fees unless we collect money on your behalf. Se Habla Español. If you speak another language we will find a way to translate so we can listen and advise.

Robbery Defined

Robbery is a serious offense and can sometimes prove to be life threatening. Being a victim of a crime can be life-altering. Per Florida statute, robbery is defined as one of several property crimes. To convict a suspect of robbery, the prosecutor must prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt.  

  • The prosecutor must prove that there was a taking. Here, the prosecutor must show that the victim did not give his or her consent to defendant’s taking the property. In Florida, the property must have been taken from the victim’s person, immediate vicinity, or an area of the victim’s control.
  • The prosecutor must show that the defendant took the property with force or a threat of imminent force. It should be noted that said force or threat of force may occur after, during, or before the defendant takes the victim’s property as long as the prosecutor can show that there was no break in the events surrounding the taking.  
  • The prosecutor must prove that the property taken had some value.    
  • The prosecutor must show that the defendant intended to commit the robbery. Robbery, in Florida, is a specific intent crime. The defendant must have specifically intended to temporarily or permanently deprive a person of his or her property.                

Take Action

After reviewing robbery and its several elements, if you feel you are a victim of the crime, it is important that you hire an attorney. Doing so will help ensure your interests and rights are taken care of properly. The crime victim lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz, PA are here for you. Contact our crime victim lawyers today for a FREE consultation. We are available at (877) 475-2905 and/or at info@gslawusa.com.  

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