Answer
A common everyday risk in Uruguay is petty theft of a phone, wallet, bag, or items from a car, and such incidents can indeed occur without physical violence. But that does not mean robberies and threats do not occur.
If you are threatened with a weapon, it is not worth resisting to protect your property. It is safer to hand over the item, move to a crowded place, freeze your cards and lock your device, then contact the police and your insurer if you have coverage. The goal is not to prove bravery but to avoid turning the loss of a phone into an injury or a financial problem.
Prevention reduces the risk: do not keep your phone in an outer pocket, do not leave your bag on the back of a chair, do not look at your screen at a deserted bus stop, and do not leave devices in the car. After a theft, digital protection is important: a SIM PIN, app locks, and backups.