Page 169 - English Vocabulary in Use (Pre & Intermediate)

8 i Crime

Against the law
If you do something illegal (= wrong / against the law), then you have committed a crime.
Most people commit a crime at some time in their lives, e.g. driving above the speed limit,
parking illegally, stealing sweets from a shop when they were children, etc.

Crimes

Crime Criminal (= person) — Verb
theft (= general word for stealing) thief steal (also take)
robbery (= steal from people or places) robber rob
burglary (= break into a shop/house and burglar burgle / break into
steal things)
shoplifting (= steal from shops when open) shoplifter shoplift
murder (= kill someone by intention) murderer murder
manslaughter (= kill someone by accident) - -
rape (= force someone to have sex) rapist rape

Crime prevention
What can governments do to fight crime (= take action to stop crime)? These things happen
in some countries, although many people may think they are not a good idea.
Police carry (= have) guns.
Police are allowed to (= are permitted to) stop anyone in the street and question them.
The courts give tougher punishments for crimes committed than in the past (e.g. bigger fines
or longer prison sentences than in the past).
There is capital punishment (= death, e.g. by electric chair or hanging) for some crimes.
What can individuals do to prevent a crime from happening (= stop a crime happening)?
Here are things some people do to protect themselves and their property (= home and land),
although you may not think they are all a good idea.
Don’t walk along dark streets late at night (e.g. midnight) on your own (= alone).
Lock all doors and windows when you go out.
Don’t wear expensive jewellery.
Leave lights on at home when you go out.
Fit (= install) a burglar alarm (= a machine which makes a noise if someone enters your
home).

Make sure your money is safe, e.g. wear a money belt.

Carry a mace spray. (This is a chemical and if you spray it in
someone’s face, it is very unpleasant. In some countries
you are allowed to carry this type of spray.)

Put money and valuables (= valuable possessions) in a safe
(= a strong metal box, which is very difficult to open or break).

Keep a gun in your house for self-defence (= to protect yourself if
someone attacks you).

166 English Vocabulary in Use (pre-intermediate & intermediate)