Final answer:
Robbery is a violent crime involving force or the threat of force between the victim and the offender. It is distinct from nonviolent crimes which involve property theft or destruction without using force. Law enforcement treats robbery seriously due to its significant cost to individuals and society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Robbery is considered a violent crime in modern U.S. society, as it entails the use of force or the threat of force. This means that during a robbery, there is an interaction between the victim and the offender that includes the robber using or threatening to use physical power to take possession of the victim's property, often instilling fear in the victim. On the other hand, nonviolent crimes, also known as property crimes, involve the theft or destruction of property without the use of force or the threat thereof. An example would be stealing a wallet without the owner's awareness, as opposed to a mugging where the threat of force is present. Robberies are taken very seriously by law enforcement, and they work to identify and arrest the perpetrators, sometimes faced with challenges such as varied witness descriptions. The costs of crime to society can be direct, indirect, or intangible, and they include economic losses as well as fear, pain, and suffering inflicted upon victims and communities.