the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > rob [verb (transitive)] > search with a view to robbing > specifically a person (2)
transitive. To plunder or rob (a person) in a thorough manner, esp. by searching his or her pockets or clothes; to search (a person) thoroughly…
intransitive. slang. To search (a person) for the purpose of finding and stealing goods. Cf. to go through —— at phrasal verbs 2. Now rare.