Each expression in this post has been shown with meaning and an example. This blog post on “IELTS Vocabulary Crime and punishment” aims to help IELTS students, ESL learners, and teachers improve their English.
1. Murder
Meaning: to kill somebody
Police entered the building to investigate the murder that happened last night.
2. Shoplifting
stealing items from shops
Shoplifting in the Meena Bazar market is a big concern for the local police
3. Assault
to attack somebody physically
The Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami was assaulted by police at his apartment.
4. Arson
if you deliberately start a fire, it’s an arson
His shop was fully burnt as the local goons set an arson yesterday.
5. Burglary
If you illegally enter a building and steal things, it’s a burglary
The police investigated the burglary that took place at the Jascon Plaza the previous Monday.
6. Robbery
a robbery takes place when someone (a robber) enters a property that is not his/hers and takes something (cash, paintings, jewelry, and other items)
People of this market are so upset seeing so many robberies lately.
7. A break in
same meaning as ‘burglary’
A sudden break-in of the criminals was recorded in the CCTV camera, and it shows they looted the whole items in the shop.
8. Mugging
This is where an individual is attacked in the street and robbed of the possessions he is carrying. These usually consist of jewelry like rings and watches, cash, credit cards, and mobile phones
Mugging cases in the capital have increased in the last two years. The government needs to install CCTV at every nook and corner of the town to stop such crimes.
9. Pickpocketing
the action of stealing from a person’s pockets
Women should be aware of their goods while traveling as pickpocketing can occur anytime in public buses.
10. Blackmail
demand money or another benefit from (someone) in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them
David has been blackmailing Teena using a recording of her MMS for almost 6 months.
11. A victim of a crime
A victim of a crime is defined as a person who has suffered physical or emotional harm, property damage, or economic loss as a result of a crime
A victim’s testimony is a very important part of the prosecutor’s case against the accused.
12. Jury
a body of people (typically twelve in number) sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court
The jury found the prisoner guilty.
13. Probation
the release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behavior under supervision
The judge sentenced Jennings to three years’ probation.
14. Offender
a person who commits an illegal act
The young offender had to be remanded in custody for ten days.
15. Electronic tagging
the attaching of electronic markers to people or goods for monitoring purposes, e.g. to track offenders under house arrest or to deter shoplifters
The electronic tagging of remand prisoners has seen a sharp rise.
