The Facts About 

Robbery 

In 2010, one robbery occurred every 

1.4 minutes in the United States.5

In 2010, the national loss due to robberies 

was an estimated $456 million.6

In 2010, robbery was the most likely 

offense to involve an armed offender 

(44 percent). Firearms were the most 

commonly used weapon (29 percent).7

In 2010, 72 percent of male and 

53 percent of female victims of a 

robbery stated that the robber was 

a stranger.8

In 2010, nearly a third of all 

robbery offenses were committed on 

streets and highways, with another 

third occurring in commercial 

establishments and residences.9

Resources for Information 

and Assistance

National Center for Victims of Crime 

202–467–8700 

www.ncvc.org

National Organization for Victim Assistance 

1–800–TRY–NOVA or 1–800–879–6682 

www.trynova.org

Directory of Crime Victim Services 

Office for Victims of Crime 

Office of Justice Programs 

U.S. Department of Justice 

http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/findvictimservices 

This product was developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime under 

an agreement with ICF International in support of the Office for Victims 

of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center under contract number 

GS–23F–8182H/OJP–2006F_124. The opinions, findings, and conclusions 

or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do 

not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department 

of Justice.

Robbery

OVC

HELP SERIES

for Crime Victims

Endnotes

1

Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2011, Crime in the 

United States, 2010, Washington, DC.

2

Ibid.

3

Ibid.

4

Ibid.

5

Ibid.

6

Ibid.

7

Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2011, Criminal Victimization, 

2010, Washington, DC. 

8

Ibid.

9

Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2011, Crime in the 

United States, 2010, Washington, DC.
What Is Robbery?

Robbery is the taking or attempted taking of anything of value, by force or by threat of force, from 

the care, custody, or control of someone.1 Armed 

robbery indicates that a weapon was used and is 

usually considered a more serious crime. Robbery 

is a property crime, but it is also a crime against a 

person and qualifies as a violent crime even if no 

weapon is involved. 

Anyone can become a victim of robbery. It is the 

second most committed violent crime in the United 

States, with 367,832 incidents accounting for 30 

percent of violent crime in 2010.2 Robberies occur 

in almost any setting: on the street, in the home, 

on public transportation, or in a business such as a 

store, hotel, or gas station. Victims, especially men, 

are more likely to be robbed by a stranger than by 

someone they know.3

The financial cost of robbery can be substantial. 

In 2010, the average dollar loss per robbery was 

$1,239, most of which was never recovered.4

There is also an emotional cost to robbery. For 

instance, emotional reactions can be very intense if 

the stolen property has unique or sentimental value. 

Also, victims often feel a total and immediate loss of 

control because of their proximity to the perpetrator. 

When a weapon is involved, the sense of helplessness and the fear of death intensifies.

If You Are the Victim 

of a Robbery 

A robbery can be a frightening, life-threatening 

situation. How victims react to robbery varies from 

person to person. Although you may feel as if you 

are the only one experiencing these feelings and 

that no one else can understand what you are going 

through, remember that your reactions are normal. 

Your reactions may be immediate and short-lived or 

delayed and long-lasting. You may feel vulnerable 

and believe that you have lost control of your life. 

Even though you did nothing wrong, you may feel 

guilt that perhaps something you did led to the robbery. You may feel intense sadness and grief over 

lost possessions. 

You may fear that the robber will return. You may 

have nightmares or flashbacks about the robbery. 

You may find that you startle more easily at little 

noises or abrupt movements. You may feel nervous 

in some crowds or very suspicious of strangers. You 

may feel angry at the perpetrator. You may also be 

angry with the police and the criminal justice system 

for not doing enough. 

Whatever your reactions, it is important for you to 

deal with and resolve your crisis in your own way 

and at your own pace. Not everyone reassembles 

his or her life in the same way or within the same 

timeframe. Many victims find it helpful to talk with 

others about the robbery and their reaction. As victims talk about the robbery, over time they learn to 

put the incident into perspective and begin to cope 

with its consequences.

Where Can You Get Help?

As the victim of a robbery, you are not alone. 

Trained professionals can help you learn about 

your rights as a crime victim. Your community 

likely has victim assistance programs with caring 

professionals, and it may have support groups—

all of which are there to help you with information, 

services, and referrals. 

Although most state crime victim compensation 

programs do not reimburse for stolen cash or stolen 

or damaged property, you may be eligible for 

reimbursement by your state’s crime victim compensation program for certain expenses related to the 

robbery, such as medical or counseling expenses 

and lost wages. To be eligible for these funds, you 

must report the robbery to the police and cooperate with the criminal justice system. Victim assistance programs in your community can help you 

determine your eligibility and complete compensation applications.

It is important to record the expenses you incurred 

as a result of the robbery. If the offender is convicted, a judge might order restitution, which requires 

the offender to repay the victim for monetary losses 

resulting from the crime. You may request restitution 

by completing a victim impact statement. However, 

note that you may receive no, or only partial, restitution because, in many cases, the defendant may 

have insufficient assets or income to pay restitution.