Difference Between “Rob,” “Thief,” And “Steal” >ROBBER OR THIEF (N.)= THE PERSON ▪The robbers ran away from the police. ▪The thief took my laptop and cell phone. ▪”Give me all your money!” the robber said. ▪”The thieves were tall, white men who looked about 22 years old. One had brown hair and the other was blonde.” >ROBBERY (N.) = THE EVENT ▪Police are investigating the robbery of the Main Street Bank. ▪”The robbery occurred at 4:30 PM.” ▪”Three employees were injured during the armed robbery.” (an “armed robbery” means there were weapons – guns or knives) >THEFT (N.) = THE EVENT OR THE CRIME (IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM) ▪”He was sentenced to eight years in prison for the theft of a motorcycle.” ▪”We immediately reported the theft to the police.” ▪”Ken was accused of identity theft.” >ROB (V.) = THE ACTION Often used in the past as robbed: ▪”Donald robbed a total of five supermarkets before being caught by the police.” ▪”My favorite pizza shop was robbed last month. Luckily, no one was hurt.” ▪”I was robbed at gunpoint while walking home from work.” >STEAL / STOLEN (V.) = THE ACTION OF TAKING SOMETHING SPECIFIC Steal is always used together with an object – the object that was taken. ▪”The thief stole a gold necklace from the woman’s bedroom.” ▪”Wendy’s wallet was stolen on the subway.” ▪”Jim was caught stealing money from his own company.” ▪”Rachel tried to steal Carla’s boyfriend.”