Vocabulary

Steal vs Rob

rob verb

/rɒb//rɑːb/ [T] (-bb-)

•to take money or property illegally from a place, organization or person, often using violence

The terrorists financed themselves by robbing banks.

My wallet's gone! I've been robbed!

They robbed the company of £2 million.

steal verb (TAKE)

/stiːl/ [I or T] (stole, stolen)

to take something without the permission or knowledge of the owner and keep it

She admitted stealing the money from her employers.

The number of cars which are stolen every year has risen.

They were so poor they had to steal in order to eat.

So someone robs a person or an organization, but s/he steals things such as money.

Thief, robber, mugger and burglar

thief noun

/θiːf/ [C] (plural thieves)

a person who steals

A post office was broken into last night, and the thieves got away with £120 000.

robber noun

/ˈrɒb.ər//ˈrɑː.bɚ/ [C]

someone who steals

The robbers shot a policeman before making their getaway.

mugger noun

/ˈmʌg.ər//-ɚ/ [C]

a person who attacks people in order to steal their money

pickpocket noun

/ˈpɪkˌpɒk.ɪt//-ˌpɑː.kɪt/ [C]

a thief who steals things out of pockets or bags, especially in a crowd

burglar noun

/ˈbɜː.glər //ˈbɝː.glɚ/ [C]

a person who illegally enters buildings and steals things

shoplifter

a person who illegally takes goods from a shop without paying for them

noun

/ˈʃɒpˌlɪf.tər//ˈʃɑːp-/ [C]

Shoplifters will be prosecuted.

A thief is more of a general term whereas a robber and a mugger imply the use of force. A burglar breaks into buildings such as houses. A shoplifter steals while pretending to be a customer. Pickpockets and shoplifters usually go unnoticed.

Definitions taken from Cambridge dictionary online