Question

Sidney leaves her laptop computer in a study carrel at the university library while she uses the restroom. While Sidney is gone, Carmen takes the computer with the intention of keeping it. Carmen has committed a robbery.

Select one:
True
False

Answer 1

Answer: FALSE. Carmen has not committed a robbery.

Explanation: A robbery is defined as an offense of taking or attempting to take the property of another by force or threat of force.

Carmen takes the computer with the intention of keeping it. She did it in the absence of Sidney and a robbery requires the presence of the other party as it involves taking by force or threat of force.

Instead, this can be termed "stealing" depending on the intentions of Carmen.

Answer 2

The statement is: False.

Step-by-step explanation:

In law, robbery refers to the act of taking away an individual's object to keep it, taking the object from the individual by force, threat or an assault. Robbery is considered a federal crime just like identity theft, fraud, kidnapping, or carjacking to mention a few.

Thus, Carmen is not committing a robbery even if she is taking away a computer that does not belong to her since there is no assault or threat in Sidney's case.