USEFUL VOCABULARY TO TALK ABOUT CRIMES

break-in

an act of entering a building illegally using force, especially in order to steal things

breaking and entering

the crime of entering a building illegally using force, especially in order to steal things

burglary

the crime of entering a building illegally in order to steal things

carjacking

a crime in which someone attacks the driver of a car and steals the car. Someone who does this is called a carjacker.

extortion

a crime in which someone gets money or information from someone else by using force or threats

heist (informal)

 an organized attempt by thieves to steal something

hijacking

an occasion when someone illegally takes control of a vehicle, especially a plane, using violence or threats

hold-up

a situation in which someone threatens people in a bank or shop with a gun in order to get money or goods

identity theft

stealing information about someone that makes it possible to use their bank account or credit card

joyriding (informal)

the crime of stealing a car and driving it for pleasure, usually in a dangerous way. If you do this you joyride, and a person who does it is a joyrider.

larceny

the crime of stealing personal property

mugging

an attack on someone in a public place in order to steal their money, jewellery, or other possessions

phishing

the practice of trying to trick someone into giving their secret bank information by sending them an email that looks as if it comes from their bank and that asks them to give their account number or password

piracy

the crime of stealing things from ships while they are sailing

plunder

the act of taking valuable things from a place using force

raid

a crime in which someone suddenly enters a place and uses force or threats to steal money or goods

ram-raiding

the crime of driving a vehicle through a shop window in order to steal goods

robbery

the crime of taking money or property illegally, often by using threats or violence

rustling

the crime of stealing farm animals such as sheep, cows, or horses

shakedown (informal, AmE)

a situation in which someone uses threats to force someone else to give them money

shoplifting

the crime of stealing things from a shop

skimming

the crime of using electronic information from someone’s credit card or payment card after they have used it to pay for something

snatch

an act of stealing something or of taking someone away by force

stick-up (informal, AmE)

an occasion when someone tries to steal money from a bank, shop etc by threatening people with a gun

theft: 

the crime of stealing. Someone who commits this crime is called a thief

thieving: 

the act or practice of stealing

trespass: 

the crime of entering a place without the owner’s permission

violation: 

the action of entering an area or place without permission

looting: stealing goods from (a place), typically during a war or riot

pilfering: 

stealing things of little value

pillage: the act of robbing (a place) using violence, especially in wartime

smash-and-grab: a robbery in which the thief smashes a shop window and seizes goods

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