What legal term describes the act of forcibly taking property from someone?

The act of forcibly taking property from someone is accurately described by the term "robbery." This legal concept involves not just taking someone's property without consent, but doing so through the use of force, intimidation, or threats of violence. The key component of robbery that distinguishes it from other property crimes is the presence of force or fear directed at a person, which elevates its severity in the eyes of the law.

In contrast, theft refers to the unlawful taking of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it, but it does not involve any force or intimidation. Burglary involves unlawfully entering a structure with the intent to commit a crime inside, but it does not necessarily involve taking something from a person. Embezzlement is the misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer, typically occurring without direct confrontation or physical force.

Therefore, "robbery" is the most fitting term for the act described, as it conveys the dual elements of forcible action and the direct targeting of an individual or their possessions.