What is meant by "taking of property by force or threat of force"?

The phrase "taking of property by force or threat of force" specifically defines the act of robbery. This definition emphasizes that robbery involves not just the act of stealing a person’s property, but it also includes the application or threat of physical force to achieve that goal.

In robbery, the presence of intimidation or violence creates a higher level of severity compared to theft, which typically does not involve any confrontation or threat. For example, if someone forcibly takes a purse from another person or threatens them with harm if they do not relinquish their belongings, this act qualifies as robbery because of the force or the potential for violence involved.

While theft encompasses various forms of unlawfully taking someone else's property, it lacks the element of direct confrontation or force. Breach of trust pertains to the misuse of entrusted property and is a different legal concept. Mugging is often considered a colloquial term for street robbery, specifically referring to an attack or assault in public spaces, but it is not as broad in its legal definition as robbery itself. Therefore, robbery is the most precise answer to the question at hand.