A man from another state said it best when he told police officers, “I’m just not good at the Robbery thing.” To corroborate this claim, a surveillance video from a Dunkin’ Donuts where the man committed his Robbery tells it all. The man entered the Dunkin’ Donuts wearing a mask and stood in line for a few minutes before going up to the counter showing his gun to the clerk. He was ignored at first, and as the clerk continued to help other customers, the man pulled off his mask and continued to wait. Finally, the man took money from the cash register and asked the clerk to forgive him before leaving the store. After police circulated a surveillance photo, the man turned himself in, and made his confession.
What is Robbery in Fort Collins?
Robbery, much like Theft in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, is charged when a person takes something of value from someone else. However, unlike Theft, Robbery has the added elements of:
- The item or items are taken directly from the person or in the presence of another, and
- The use of force, threat, or intimidation.
In this case, the man took money from the cash register (in the presence of another) and showed a gun, which counts as a threat or intimidation. Because a gun was involved, the charge would be elevated to Aggravated Robbery. Anytime a deadly weapon in used in the Robbery, the Larimer County District Attorney would charge Aggravated Robbery. Robbery is charged as a class 4 felony whereas Aggravated Robbery is a class 3 felony.
Robbery cases are not always that straightforward.
This is a pretty classic Robbery case, where a man brings a gun and takes money from a store. However, Robbery cases are not always that straightforward. Robbery can be charged when a man runs past a woman and takes her purse off her arm. By taking the purse directly from the woman and pulling it off her arm (use of force), the man can be charged with Robbery in Larimer, Boulder and Grand County. Or, if a husband yanks his wife’s wedding off her finger when she tells him she wants to get a divorce, he could be charged with Domestic Violence Robbery.