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English
Have you ever been the victim of a crime?
Have you ever witnessed a crime?
Have you ever committed a crime?
Crime is an important topic in newspapers, online news, and television reports. In this lesson, you will learn useful crime vocabulary in English, including crime verbs, types of crime, people involved in crime, and words used in a criminal investigation.
Crime (noun) means an illegal action or activity.
Killing someone is a serious crime.
We do not usually use crime as a verb. The correct phrase is commit a crime. Commit means “do” in this expression.
He was sent to prison for a crime he did not commit.
A criminal (noun) is a person who commits a crime.
The police arrested a dangerous criminal.
Criminal can also be an adjective. It describes something connected with crime.
The police are investigating criminal activity.
Rob (verb) means to take money or valuable things from a person, place, or organisation.
We say:
The criminals robbed a bank.
The mugger robbed an old man.
When we use rob, we focus on the person or place that loses something.
Steal (verb) means to take something that belongs to another person without permission.
We say:
Someone stole my wallet on the bus.
My bag was stolen at the party.
The verb forms are:
Theft (noun) means the act of stealing something.
The police are investigating the theft of a laptop.
A thief (noun) is a person who steals something.
The thief took my phone and ran away.
| Crime | Meaning | Person or verb |
|---|---|---|
| Arson | Starting a fire deliberately to damage or destroy something, especially a building. | An arsonist starts the fire. |
| Bank robbery | Stealing money from a bank. | A bank robber steals from a bank. |
| Burglary | Entering a building illegally to steal something. | A burglar commits burglary. Burgle is the verb. |
| Manslaughter | Killing someone without intending to commit murder. Legal definitions can be different in different countries. | — |
| Murder | The intentional and illegal killing of another person. | A murderer commits murder. Murder is also a verb. |
| Mugging | Attacking someone in a public place and stealing their money or belongings. | A mugger commits a mugging. Mug is also a verb. |
| Petty crime | A small or less serious crime. | Examples can include minor theft, vandalism, or some traffic offences. |
| Shoplifting | Taking something from a shop without paying for it. | A shoplifter commits shoplifting. Shoplift is the verb. |
| Vandalism | Deliberately damaging public or private property. | A vandal damages property. |
The fire at the school was caused by arson.
The police arrested a burglar.
Someone tried to mug me on my way home.
The shoplifter put the stolen clothes in a bag.
The wall was covered in graffiti after an act of vandalism.
The meaning of smuggling and trafficking depends on what is being moved.
Human smuggling means helping a person enter another country illegally, usually in exchange for money. The person often agrees to the journey, and the arrangement may end when they arrive.
Human trafficking means using force, lies, threats, or pressure to exploit a person. A person may be forced to work, provide sexual services, or do other things. Human trafficking does not always involve crossing a border. unodc
Drug smuggling means moving illegal drugs across a border, often secretly.
Drug trafficking has a wider meaning. It can include making, transporting, storing, selling, or distributing illegal drugs. It does not always involve crossing an international border. law.cornell
The exact legal meaning of these terms can be different in different countries.
White-collar crime is a non-violent crime committed to make money. People, companies, or government workers may commit these crimes as part of their work.
Examples include:
The term white-collar is connected with professional and office work. However, white-collar crime can be committed by anyone.
White-collar criminals are the people who commit white-collar crimes.
Victim (noun) – a person who suffers because of a crime.
The criminal stole the victim’s car.
Witness (noun) – a person who sees or knows something about a crime.
Several witnesses saw the bank robber leave the building.
Suspect (noun) – a person whom the police believe may have committed a crime.
The police questioned a suspect.
Perpetrator (noun) – the person who commits a crime or does something illegal.
The police are trying to identify the perpetrator.
Defendant (noun) – a person who has been officially accused of a crime and must appear in court.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor (noun) – a lawyer who presents the case against the defendant in court.
Judge (noun) – the person who controls a court case and makes legal decisions.
Jury (noun) – a group of people who listen to the evidence and decide whether the defendant is guilty. Not every country uses juries in every case.
The exact process is different in different countries. Also, not every investigation leads to an arrest, a trial, or a prison sentence.
A person tells the police about a possible crime. This is called reporting a crime.
The police think that a person may have committed a crime. This person is called a suspect.
Suspicion is not proof. A suspect is not automatically guilty.
The police look for information about the crime. They may speak to people, check records, visit a place, or collect evidence.
Evidence is information that may show what happened. It can include fingerprints, photographs, messages, videos, objects, or documents.
A person who saw or knows something about a crime is called a witness.
The police may search a person, building, vehicle, or other place. In some cases, they need a search warrant, which is official permission from a court.
The police may also question or interview the suspect and witnesses.
The police arrest a person when they officially take control of them because they believe the person may have committed a crime.
After an arrest, the person may be taken to a police station or jail. This is sometimes called being in custody.
A charge is an official statement that a person is accused of a crime.
A prosecutor or another legal authority usually decides whether to bring charges. The person is then called the accused or the defendant. govinfo
A court may decide whether the defendant can leave custody while waiting for the case.
This release is called bail. The defendant may have to pay money or follow certain rules.
At a first hearing, the court explains the charges and decides what happens next.
The defendant tells the court whether they are guilty or not guilty.
A guilty plea means that the defendant admits committing the crime. A not-guilty plea means that the defendant denies the charge or wants the prosecution to prove it.
A trial is a formal court process. The prosecution presents its evidence, and the defence answers the accusations.
A judge or jury listens to both sides and makes a decision.
A verdict is the court’s decision.
If the defendant is found guilty, the judge gives a sentence. A sentence is the official punishment for the crime.
Possible punishments include:
A jail is usually a local place where people stay for a short time. It may hold people who are waiting for a trial or serving a short sentence.
A prison is usually a place where people serve longer sentences after they have been convicted. The difference between jail and prison can vary between countries. bjs.ojp
An appeal is a request for a higher court to review a decision made by a lower court.
Report → suspicion → investigation → evidence → arrest → charge → first hearing → plea → trial → verdict → sentence or punishment → jail, prison, or another punishment → appeal
In some cases, the defendant pleads guilty and there is no full trial. In other cases, the police do not make an arrest, or the prosecutor does not bring charges.
What’s the correct missing word in these ten sentences:
1) The __ was arrested by police who caught him hiding in his garden.
criminal
crime
victim
witness
2) It looks like he is trying to __ that umbrella.
rob
crime
steal
criminal
3) The man was __ as he walked home late at night.
steal
rob
stolen
robbed
4) My watch has been __.
stealed
steal
stolen
stole
5) She tried to __ drugs in her suitcase from Toronto to Seattle.
smuggle
mug
burgle
pickpocket
6) The _ was caught with the CDs in his bag while he was still in the shop.
mugger
smuggler
pickpocket
shoplifter
7) I caught a __ trying to steal my purse on the crowded bus.
shoplifter
pickpocket
smuggler
murderer
8) The __ was shot 5 times by the murderer.
crime
thief
victim
criminal
9) Police are trying to catch the __ who set fire to the school.
arsoner
arsonman
arsonist
arson
10) I have never committed a __.
steal
criminal
crime
thief
1) criminal
2) steal
3) robbed
4) stolen
5) smuggle
6) shoplifter
7) pickpocket
8) victim
9) arsonist
10) crime
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