What constitutes the crime of robbery?

Robbery is defined as the act of taking property from a person or their immediate presence, using force or the threat of force. This means that for a crime to qualify as robbery, it must involve an element of violence or intimidation that places the victim in fear or compels them to surrender their property against their will.

In this context, the correct choice highlights the essential characteristic that differentiates robbery from other forms of theft: the use of force or threats. For instance, if someone is confronted with a weapon or verbally threatened during the act of theft, it elevates the crime to robbery due to the immediate danger posed to the victim.

Other options describe different offenses. Entering a building with the intent to commit theft refers to burglary, which does not necessarily involve immediate confrontation or violence. Shoplifting pertains to theft where items are taken from a store without payment but does not involve direct interaction or force against another person. Lastly, possessing stolen property is a separate crime that focuses on keeping or acquiring items known to be stolen, which also lacks the necessary element of direct confrontation or coercion that defines robbery.