Final answer:
The correct answer is 'true,' as robbery must involve force or fear in the act of taking property, distinguishing it from mere theft, which does not include these elements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed relates to the distinction between robbery and theft, which are different types of crimes. The answer to the question is 'a. true,' as robbery indeed requires the use of force or fear in the taking of someone's property. Unlike theft, which is the unauthorized taking or use of someone's property, robbery typically involves threat or actual physical harm to the victim. In the case of the suspects apprehended by the police, having an unlawfully carried weapon could potentially support charges of armed robbery, should evidence of the use of force or fear in the taking of property be discovered.
- Theft is taking property without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.
- Robbery implies the presence of force or intimidation to take property.