CRIME AND PUNISHMENT – VOCABULARY

Pickpocket:

Meaning: a thief who steals things out of pockets or bags, especially in a crowd

Example: Beware of pickpockets, especially when making a purchase.

Murderer:

Meaning: someone who illegally and intentionally kills another person:

Example: A convicted murderer was executed in North Carolina yesterday.

Mugger:

Meaning: a person who threatens or attacks somebody in order to steal their money, jewellery, etc.,
especially in a public place

Example: If a mugger were to steal her purse, he wouldn’t get any money, because she carried that in a
wallet in her skirt pocket under her coat.

Burglar:

Meaning: someone who steals things from inside a house or a building.

Example: No household security devices will protect you against the determined burglar.

Robber

Meaning: someone who steals:

Example: The robbers shot a policeman before making their getaway.

Shoplifter:

Meaning: a person who takes goods illegally from a shop without paying for them:

Example: Shoplifters will be prosecuted.

Smuggling:

Meaning: The act or process of taking things or people to or from a place secretly and often illegally:

Example: The murdered man is thought to have been involved in drug smuggling.

Kidnapper:

Meaning: someone who takes a person away illegally by force, usually in order to demand money in
exchange for releasing them.

Example: His kidnappers released him without any conditions.

Vandalism:

Meaning: any activity that is considered to be damaging or destroying something that was good

Example: Cutting down the old forest was an act of vandalism.

Vandal:

Meaning: a person who intentionally damages property belonging to other people.

Example: Vandals smashed windows and overturned cars in the downtown shopping district.

Capital punishment:

Witnesses:

Meaning: a person who sees an event happening, especially a crime or an accident.

Example: Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident to come forward.

Exercise:

1. The _____________ have been arrested but the jewelry is still missing.

2. He spent thousands on security cameras and alarms to deter __________.

3. Nine people are in custody in the Netherlands charged with people _________.

4. She urged the _____________ to free her son

5. According to eye _________, the robbery was carried out by two teenage boys.

Answers next page

ANSWERS

1. The burglars have been arrested but the jewelry is still missing.

2. He spent thousands on security cameras and alarms to deter shoplifters.

3. Nine people are in custody in the Netherlands charged with people smuggling.

4. She urged the kidnappers to free her son

5. According to eye witnesses, the robbery was carried out by two teenage boys.