Robbery Charges in Ontario

Updated October 8, 2026

Robbery is more than a general description of a theft. The charge may concern violence, threats, an assault with intent to steal or stealing while armed. The particular statutory route and evidence connecting a person to it must be reviewed before making decisions about a statement or plea.

How is robbery defined?

Criminal Code section 343 sets out several forms of robbery. They include specified uses of violence or threats in stealing, violence connected in time to a theft, assault with intent to steal, and stealing while armed with an offensive weapon or imitation. The prosecution does not have to establish every alternative. Whether force, threats or a weapon are alleged changes the issues to investigate.

Identity and the sequence of events

Disclosure may include surveillance, identification evidence, messages, location records, statements and forensic material. Counsel should examine the quality of an identification, what each participant allegedly did, the timing of any violence and whether the evidence proves the required intention. Mere presence should not be treated as automatically establishing participation, but another person's conduct may be relevant to a properly alleged basis of liability.

Potential consequences

Section 344 provides serious penalties, including a maximum of life imprisonment. Firearm allegations and the circumstances of the offence can affect the sentencing analysis. Statutory language, applicable case law and individual circumstances must be reviewed; neither a fixed sentence nor a guaranteed result should be inferred from a general overview.

Practical next steps

Keep release documents, follow conditions and record court dates. Preserve relevant records and promptly identify footage that may be overwritten. Do not contact a complainant contrary to an order or coordinate witness accounts. Discuss immigration, employment and licensing concerns with counsel before deciding how to resolve the charge.

Sources and scope

Sources: Criminal Code section 343; Criminal Code section 344. This is an updated replacement for a legacy overview. It is general information, not legal advice. The exact charge, applicable statutory version and evidence require individual review.