What is the difference between theft and robbery?

Answer

The distinguishing element is the means used. Robbery (Article 293) requires that the taking be accomplished by violence against or intimidation of a person, or by force upon things. Theft (Article 308) is the taking of property without the owner's consent but without any of those means.

So an unarmed pickpocket who quietly takes a wallet commits theft; one who takes it by threatening or assaulting the victim, or by breaking into a locked place, commits robbery, which carries heavier penalties.

Sources & further reading

• RPC Art. 293 — robbery
• RPC Art. 308 — theft
• Full report: theft & qualified theft

Cases on this topic

• Analyn Bondame v. People
• Arlene Homol y Romorosa v. People
• Edwin del Rosario v. People
• El Pueblo de Filipinas v. Jose de la Cruz
• Fernando Pante y Rangasa v. People
• Jain v. People
• Janice Reside y Tan v. People
• Jomar Ablaza y Caparas v. People

Related questions

• What is theft under Philippine law?
• What is qualified theft, and how is it different from theft?
• What is the penalty for theft in the Philippines?
• What is the difference between theft and estafa?