Robo vs. hurto
The Spanish words robo and hurto both translate to theft in English. Both terms refer to the act of taking something from someone else without their permission with the intent of depriving them of it. However, there are subtle differences between these terms in Spanish law that distinguish the circumstances in which they're used.
Robo
B1The term robo is used when violence or intimidation is involved in the process of stealing.
El robo fue cometido por un hombre armado.
(The robbery was committed by an armed man.)
Se reportó un robo a mano armada en el banco local.
(An armed robbery at the local bank was reported.)
Hurto
B2The term hurto, on the other hand, refers to theft when there's no violence, intimidation or force towards people involved and targets personal property.
Fue acusado de hurto por no devolver el libro de la biblioteca.
(He was accused of theft for not returning the library book.)
El hurto de carteras es común en las ciudades con gran afluencia turística.
(Purse snatching is common in cities with heavy tourist traffic.)
Summary
Robo and hurto both refer to theft, but differentiate in terms of the method used. Robo involves violence or intimidation, such as an armed robbery, while hurto typically involves non-violent forms of theft like pickpocketing or stealing someone's personal belongings when they're not around.