What type of crime is characterized by taking someone's property by threat or use of force?

Robbery is defined as a crime that involves taking someone's property through the use of threat or actual force. The key elements of robbery are the presence of intimidation or violence, which distinguishes it from other theft-related crimes. When a perpetrator threatens a victim or uses physical force to take property, the act becomes robbery, as it endangers the victim's safety and involves coercion.

In contrast, theft typically refers to the act of taking someone else's property without consent and without the threat or use of force. Burglary generally involves unlawfully entering a structure with the intent to commit a crime inside, which does not necessarily require direct interaction with a person. Arson relates to the intentional setting of fires to property, which is unrelated to property theft through force or threats. Therefore, the defining characteristic of robbery lies in the aggressive nature of the crime, making it the correct answer in this context.