Talking about Crime: English Vocabulary List

someone held prisoner by a person or group who will be set free if the demands of that person or group are met

"The hostage was freed yesterday."

"The bank robber took three employees hostage during the attempted robbery and threatened to hurt them."

the process of concealing the origins, ownership, or destination of illegally obtained money by passing it through a legitimate financial institution or businesses

"Money laundering is a serious crime."

"Money laundering is a criminal scheme to disguise the illegal origin of cash by passing it through a complex sequence of legitimate banking transfers and businesses."

the repeated and unwanted following, watching, or harassment of someone, causing fear or distress

"Stalking is against the law."

"Cyberstalking is the use of the internet and other electronic means by a predator to stalk"

criminal activities carried out through the use of computers or the internet, often involving unauthorized access to computer systems, theft of personal or financial information, fraud, identity theft, or the spread of malicious software

"The police fight cybercrime daily."

"Cybercrime encompasses any criminal activity that targets or uses a computer network or device"

the crime of entering a building to commit illegal activities such as stealing, damaging property, etc.

"Burglary happens when someone breaks in."

"Burglary is the unlawful entry into a building or other premises with the deliberate intent to commit an offence inside"

a dishonest or illegal way of gaining money

"The email was a scam."

"A phishing scam is a fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication"

a person who attacks and robs people in a public place

"The mugger took her bag."

"A mugger is a criminal who commits robbery by threatening or using violence against a victim in a public place"

the act of one person killing another, whether lawfully or unlawfully

"The police investigated the homicide."

"Justifiable homicide is a legal term for a killing that is deemed lawful and without criminal culpability"

the criminal act of setting something on fire, particularly a building

"Arson destroyed the old factory."

"Arson is the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property"

the act of importing or exporting goods or people secretly and against the law

"Smuggling goods is a crime."

"The police arrested the gang for smuggling illegal drugs across the border hidden inside trucks."

unlawful killing of a person without premeditation or intent

"He was guilty of manslaughter."

"Involuntary manslaughter is an unintentional killing that results from recklessness or criminal negligence"

an amount of money demanded or paid for the release of a person who is in captivity

"They paid the ransom."

"The kidnappers demanded a substantial ransom for the safe return of the abducted businessman."

a criminal who steals money or other goods from people's pockets or bags

"The pickpocket stole his wallet."

"A pickpocket is a thief who specializes in stealing items from the pockets or bags of unsuspecting victims in crowded public places without being noticed."

to move goods or people illegally and secretly into or out of a country

"He tried to smuggle drugs across the border."

"The criminal tried to smuggle illegal drugs across the border by hiding them inside a secret compartment in his car."

to secretly steal money entrusted to one's care, typically by manipulating financial records, for personal use or gain

"The accountant embezzled company funds."

"The trusted accountant managed to embezzle millions of dollars from the company before anyone noticed that the money was missing."

to illegally take someone away, especially by force or deception

"Kidnappers abducted the wealthy businessman."

"The police launched a massive search when they discovered that someone had tried to abduct a young child from the playground."

to make secret plans with other people to commit an illegal or destructive act

"The group conspired against the government."

"The two employees conspired to steal trade secrets from their employer and sell them to a rival company for a large profit."

‌an act of violently stealing something valuable, especially from a shop or bank

"The heist was carefully planned."

"The daring heist involved stealing a famous painting from the museum in the middle of the night."

a method of secretly listening to or recording telephone conversations

"The police used a wiretap to listen to the suspect's phone conversations."

"A wiretap is the electronic surveillance of a telephone or internet communication by a third party"

to steal goods from a store by secretly taking them without paying

"The teenager was caught shoplifting candy."

"The teenager was caught trying to shoplift a candy bar from the convenience store and the owner called his parents immediately."

to murder a prominent figure in a sudden attack, usually for political purposes

"The assassin tried to assassinate the leader."

"The secret service foiled a plot to assassinate the political leader just hours before the public event was scheduled to begin."

to act or pretend to be someone else, typically for the purpose of entertainment or mimicry

"He impersonated a police officer."

"The fraudster tried to impersonate a police officer to gain access to the elderly woman's home and steal her valuable belongings."

to illegally enter a building or area with the intent to commit theft or other crimes

"Someone burglarized the house last night."

"The thieves waited until the family went on vacation before they broke in to burglarize the empty house during the night."