Rob or steal?

Rob and steal both mean 'take something from someone without permission'.

Rob focuses on the place or person from which the thing is taken:

• The gang robbed three banks over a period of six months, but were finally caught.
• Our local post office was robbed early on Tuesday morning.
• A young woman was attacked and robbed as she walked home from work last night.

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When we are talking about a house, we use burgle:

• The house was burgled while they were all sleeping.
• Not: The house was robbed ...

Steal focuses on the thing that is taken:

• The thieves entered the museum through the roof and stole three paintings worth more than two million euros.
• Our car was stolen from outside our house last week.

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We usually don't say rob + object stolen:

• He stole my wallet.
• Not: He robbed my wallet.