Can a theft charge be upgraded to robbery in Florida?

If a simple theft escalates into a physical struggle, it may be reclassified. Under Florida law, if force is used at any point during the "continuous series of acts" involving the taking, including during the escape or while resisting the owner’s attempts to recover the property, the state may pursue a robbery charge. This "after-the-fact" force can turn a shoplifting misdemeanor into a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.