What defines the act of robbery by sudden snatching?

Robbery by sudden snatching is characterized by the immediate and non-consensual taking of property from a person, often in a manner that the victim may not fully recognize until after the act has been completed. The defining aspect of this crime is that the act occurs swiftly and often without the victim's awareness at the very moment of taking, which can create a sense of surprise or panic.

When the victim is aware of the taking during its occurrence, it involves an element of confrontation or overt theft. However, the essence of robbery by sudden snatching lies in the quickness and stealth of the act—typically the victim may only realize that their property is being taken after the perpetrator has already moved away with it. This creates a scenario where the act of theft is both audacious and surprising, qualifying it as robbery rather than mere theft.

In contrast, elements like taking property from unknown persons, the value of the property, or the condition of the property being abandoned do not align with the legal definition of robbery by sudden snatching, as they do not encapsulate the critical aspect of the victim's awareness during the act. The victim's realization of the theft is what distinguishes robbery by sudden snatching from other types of theft or robbery where force