Skip to main content
US Criminal Defense.org
Menu

Florida statute

Fla. Stat. § 812.131 — Robbery by sudden snatching

Current through 2025 Florida Statutes

Part of Chapter 812: Theft, Robbery, and Related Crimes, Florida Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Fla. Stat. § 812.131

Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.

Fla. Stat. § 812.131Primary source, current through the 2025 Florida Statutes
(1) “Robbery by sudden snatching” means the taking of money or other property from the victim’s person, with intent to permanently or temporarily deprive the victim or the owner of the money or other property, when, in the course of the taking, the victim was or became aware of the taking. In order to satisfy this definition, it is not necessary to show that:(a) The offender used any amount of force beyond that effort necessary to obtain possession of the money or other property; or(b) There was any resistance offered by the victim to the offender or that there was injury to the victim’s person. (2)(a) If, in the course of committing a robbery by sudden snatching, the offender carried a firearm or other deadly weapon, the robbery by sudden snatching is a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.(b) If, in the course of committing a robbery by sudden snatching, the offender carried no firearm or other deadly weapon, the robbery by sudden snatching is a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. (3)(a) An act shall be deemed “in the course of committing a robbery by sudden snatching” if the act occurs in an attempt to commit robbery by sudden snatching or in fleeing after the attempt or commission.(b) An act shall be deemed “in the course of the taking” if the act occurs prior to, contemporaneous with, or subsequent to the taking of the property and if such act and the act of taking constitute a continuous series of acts or events.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is robbery by sudden snatching a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?

It depends on the circumstances: robbery by sudden snatching ranges from a Felony of the Third Degree to a Felony of the Second Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 812.131.

Robbery by sudden snatching with firearm or other deadly weapon: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 812.131(2)(a)) · Robbery by sudden snatching without firearm or deadly weapon: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 812.131(2)(b))

Which Florida statute covers robbery by sudden snatching?

Robbery by sudden snatching is governed by Fla. Stat. § 812.131 (Robbery by sudden snatching).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.