What legal term describes taking personal property from another's possession by fear?

The legal term that describes taking personal property from another's possession by fear is robbery. This crime involves the use or threat of force to take someone else's property, creating an immediate fear in the victim. The key element distinguishing robbery from other crimes such as theft is that robbery involves direct confrontation and the intimidation or coercion of the victim, making them feel threatened.

In the context of this question, burglary refers to the unlawful entry into a building with intent to commit a crime, usually theft, but it does not require intimidation or fear. Theft generally describes the unlawful taking of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of it, but it does not involve fear or force. Assault involves the threat of violence or actual physical harm but does not necessarily involve the taking of property. Thus, robbery is correctly identified as the term that fits the description provided.