armed robbery
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armed robbery
A criminal offense in which someone's property is taken by force or by threatening force.
Die Polizei untersucht den Raubüberfall auf die Bank von gestern Abend.
The police are investigating last night's armed robbery of the bank.
The word is made up of 'der Raub' (robbery) and 'der Überfall' (attack). So it literally describes an attack in which something is stolen by force.
Der Raubüberfall dauerte nur wenige Minuten.
The armed robbery lasted only a few minutes.
To name the target of the robbery, you use the preposition 'auf' followed by the accusative.
Die Nachrichten berichteten über einen Raubüberfall auf ein Postamt.
The news reported on an armed robbery of a post office.
In connection with an armed robbery, the verbs 'begehen' (to commit) or 'verüben' (to perpetrate) are often used. A person can also 'Opfer eines Raubüberfalls werden' (become the victim of an armed robbery).
Die Täter, die den Raubüberfall begangen haben, sind noch flüchtig.
The perpetrators who committed the armed robbery are still at large.
theft
'der Diebstahl' (theft) and 'der Raubüberfall' (armed robbery) both have to do with someone taking someone else's property. The important difference is violence. In a 'Diebstahl', someone takes something, often secretly or without direct contact with the victim. In a 'Raubüberfall', violence is used or threatened, for example with a weapon. The words can be confused because in both cases something is stolen. If it is about taking something secretly, 'Diebstahl' fits; if people are threatened or attacked, 'Raubüberfall' is more precise.
Nach dem Raubüberfall auf die Bank suchte die Polizei nach Zeugen.
After the armed robbery at the bank, the police looked for witnesses.
Im Zug bemerkte Lisa den Diebstahl erst, als ihr Handy weg war.
On the train, Lisa only noticed the theft when her phone was gone.