Is it legal to immediately rob someone who just robbed you?

Question

Say you're standing at a whatever with your wallet out and some guy puts his finger to your head from behind and it feels like a gun so you give him your wallet. Then when he starts running away you chase after him and steal it back, that's legal right? Are you also allowed to beat the c**p out of him or her?

Answer 1

it really depends on the law of the country

In Poland (my place) you would be immediately prosecuted for 1) excessive self defence, 2) assault, 3) robbery, 4) grievious bodily harm.

Your attacker would go scot free and be able to sue you for damages

It doesn't have to be logical (and it isn't) but it's still the way the law is executed

Answer 2

Laurel and Hardy did it in one of their most hilariious scenes from "Bhemian Girl.  They had a policemand help them, and they even took the poor fellow's pistol.

Answer 3

Intent and reasonable understanding of the danger come into play.

If you think he will go back to hitting you with the shoe, you can take reasonable action to stop him from doing so.

Likewise, you can 'steal' (take) the wallet back.  But beating him up after that is not self-defense or taking your wallet back.  If you beat the c**p out of him in the process of re-taking the wallet, and he is fighting back, you are on nebulous grounds.  If you are punching him in the face as you slowly remove the wallet from his pocket, and he is not resisting, you are committing not just assault but battery and more.

Answer 4

Yes, you can steal it back. Its property. However, you cannot attack the person. If they attack you, you can defend yourself.

Answer 5

You are allowed to take back your property however you are not legally entitled to harm another person unless it is in self defense. The appropriate thing to do would be to hold them there until a police officer arrives. In reality you would most likely have to physically confront them to get your wallet back and in that case it would be better to call law enforcement.

Answer 6

Yes, it's legal to take back what is yours. It's not robbing to take something that belongs to you in the first place. As for beating him/her up, that would be assault and is illegal.