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- Understanding crime types
- Robbery
Overview
If you’ve experienced a robbery, it’s important to know it’s not your fault. No one has the right to harm you, and you deserve to feel safe in your home, workplace, and community.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call the Police on 111
If you need the Police but can’t speak for fear of harm, you will be asked to press keys for emergency assistance. If hearing or speaking is difficult, you can sign up to 111 TXT
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If you need urgent support services, you can get help now
What is robbery?
Robbery is when someone takes property from you using violence or threats.
It’s treated as a violent crime and triggers a stronger police response, greater victim rights and more support options than theft alone.
Examples include:
- threatening someone on the street and taking their phone
- forcing a shop worker to open a till
- pushing someone and taking their bag.
Aggravated robbery
Aggravated robbery is more serious. It’s when there are factors such as the use of a weapon, more than one offender, or serious harm has happened.
This often means a stronger police presence and access to more support.
The maximum penalty for robbery is 10 years in prison. Aggravated robbery has a higher penalty of up to 14 years in prison.
What to do if a robbery happens
Your safety is the most important thing. If possible:
- move to a safe place and avoid confronting or chasing the offender
- call 111 if there is immediate danger
- seek medical attention if required
- try to remember details
- try to preserve the scene (where it happened).
Support and recovery
Experiencing a robbery can be traumatic, whether you’ve been physically hurt or not, but you don’t have to handle it alone.
Victim Support (Manaaki Tāngata) (external link) provide free, 24/7 emotional support and practical help.
Freephone: 0800 842 846
They can help with:
- emotional support
- practical help and safety planning
- navigating police and courts.
Financial support
If you have insurance, contact your home, contents, vehicle or business insurer. If the offender is convicted, you may receive court-ordered reparation.
If the robbery involved violence, you may qualify for the Victim Assistance Scheme (VAS) to help cover costs linked to serious crime and recovery (like counselling or safety measures).