- Legal Basis
- § 249 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment of not less than one year
- Summary
- Taking property from another person by force or threat of force
Robbery under Section 249 of the German Criminal Code – Overview
Robbery is a two-act offence combining elements of theft and coercion. It ranks among the most serious property offences and is classified as a serious crime (Verbrechen) with a minimum sentence of one year’s imprisonment. Section 249 StGB protects both property and the personal freedom and physical integrity of the victim.
Statutory Text (Section 249 StGB – Excerpt)
Subsection 1: Whoever takes away movable property belonging to another person from that person by using force against them or by threatening them with present danger to life or limb, with the intent to unlawfully appropriate the property for themselves or a third party, shall be liable to imprisonment of not less than one year.
Subsection 2: In less serious cases, the penalty is imprisonment from six months to five years.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
Force Against a Person
Force means the use of physical power to overcome actual or expected resistance. The force must be used as a means to effect the taking (functional connection). Even holding someone down or pushing them to the ground suffices.
Threat of Present Danger to Life or Limb
Alternatively, a threat of present danger to physical integrity or life suffices. The threat must be seriously intended and understood as such by the victim.
Taking Away Movable Property
As with theft, movable property belonging to another must be taken away – breaking existing custody and establishing new custody.
Intent to Appropriate
The perpetrator must intend to unlawfully appropriate the property.
Functional Connection
The decisive element is the functional connection between the means of coercion (force/threat) and the taking: the force or threat must be used as a means to enable the taking.
Typical Methods of Commission
Common scenarios include: street robbery (snatching handbags or mobile phones using force), armed robberies of shops, petrol stations, or kiosks, robbery on public transport, handbag snatching, robbery using firearms or knives, and targeting elderly or physically weaker persons.
Sentencing Range
Simple robbery carries imprisonment of not less than one year (maximum 15 years). In less serious cases, the sentence ranges from six months to five years. Aggravated robbery (Section 250 StGB) – for example with weapons or as part of a gang – carries a minimum of three years. Robbery resulting in death (Section 251 StGB) carries life imprisonment or not less than ten years. A suspended sentence is only possible in exceptional cases due to the minimum sentence.
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence focuses on: challenging the functional connection (force not used for the purpose of taking, but for another reason), distinguishing from robbery-like theft (Section 252 StGB), establishing a less serious case, identification problems in street robbery cases, challenging identification procedures (photo arrays, line-ups), exclusion of evidence from unlawful investigative measures, and negotiating a plea agreement (Section 257c StPO) where evidence is overwhelming.
Typical case groups in robbery (§ 249 StGB)
Robbery is a serious crime, punishable by imprisonment of not less than one year. For the defence, the distinction from theft, coercion and extortion is decisive – and whether force or a qualified threat actually existed.
Robbery-like theft
Where force is used only after the taking, in order to secure the loot, § 252 StGB may apply. The precise chronological sequence is central here for the legal classification and the sentence.
Aggravated robbery and imitation weapons
Carrying a weapon or a dangerous tool leads to § 250 StGB with a considerably increased sentencing range. Imitation weapons can also be covered – the assessment is frequently open to challenge.
Distinction from extortion
Whether an event is classified as robbery or robbery-like extortion depends on fine details of the course of events. This distinction can have a significant effect on sentencing.
Note: This information is general and does not replace advice in an individual case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was unterscheidet Robbery von Theft?
Der Robbery (§ 249 StGB) ist eine Wegnahme unter Einsatz von Gewalt gegen eine Person oder Drohung mit gegenwärtiger Gefahr für Leib oder Leben. Er ist ein Verbrechen mit einer Mindestfreiheitsstrafe von einem Jahr.
Droht bei einem Robberyvorwurf Pre-Trial Detention?
Bei einem Verbrechen wie Robbery wird häufig Pre-Trial Detention angeordnet. Akteneinsicht und Haftprüfung haben daher Vorrang; wir arbeiten auf eine Außervollzugsetzung hin.
Welche Verteidigungsansätze gibt es?
Im Mittelpunkt stehen die Abgrenzung zu Theft und Coercion, der zeitliche und finale Zusammenhang von Gewalt und Wegnahme sowie die Belastbarkeit von Identifizierung und Zeugenaussagen.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Robbery? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Robbery requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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