Vocabulary
part of speech |
Meaning |
Example sentence |
arrest
verb |
take into police control |
My partner arrested the man who set fire to the building. |
assailant
noun |
person who assaults or attacks |
Did you see the assailant run away? |
at large (on the loose)
preposition + adjective |
not caught, running free |
I'm afraid that the man who robbed the bank is still at large. |
armed and dangerous
adjective |
is carrying a weapon and has a violent background |
Do not approach the thief if you see him. He is considered armed and dangerous. |
back-up
noun |
police that are called in to support or help |
We're calling for back up now that we know she has a gun. |
bail
noun |
large amount of money that someone pays as a promise to appear in cour |
Your husband's bail is posted at 20, 000 dollars. |
baton (night stick)
noun |
heavy stick that police use for controlling crowds or defending themselves |
No, we don't carry guns. We only have batons. |
book someone
verb |
register someone as a criminal |
We're taking your brother down to the station to book him. |
break into
verb |
enter a residence, car, or business illegally |
Do you have any idea who would have broken into your car? |
burglar
noun |
a person who breaks into a home or business and steals items |
We think the burglar got in through your chimney. |
cell
noun |
individual room in a jail/prison |
We'll have to keep you in a cell until someone comes to pay your bail. |
convict
noun |
a person who is doing (or supposed to be doing) jailtime |
Please be aware that there is a convict on the loose. |
cop/copper
noun |
police officer (common slang) |
Did somebody here call the cops? |
criminal record
noun |
a file that lists all of the crimes a person has committed |
We don't allow anyone with a criminal record into our country. |
crime scene
noun |
the place where a crime happened |
Please stay outside the yellow tape. This is a crime scene. |
cruiser (squad car)
noun |
police car |
Please step out of your vehicle and get into the police cruiser. |
(in) custody
noun |
under police control |
You will be happy to know that we have taken the kidnapper into custody. |
DUI/DWI
|
(Driving Under the Influence/Driving while Intoxicated). Driving after drinking too much alcohol |
Your record says that you have two previous DUIs. |
detective
noun |
police officer responsible for solving crime |
The detective is going to ask you a few questions about the man's appearance. |
do time
verb + noun |
receive punishment for a crime by spending time in jail |
You won't be required to do any time but you will have to pay a fine. |
domestic dispute
adjective + noun |
argument/trouble in the home(often leads to violence) |
We've had a number of calls reporting a domestic dispute in your hotel room. |
escape
verb |
get away from a holding place |
If you try to escape we will have to restrain you with handcuffs. |
felony
noun |
a major crime (e.g. murder) |
Murder is considered a felony and is punishable by life in prison. |
fine
noun |
money that a person pays for breaking a law |
You can get charged a large fine for speeding in a school zone. |
fingerprints
noun |
marks left by fingers that identify a person |
We're going to have to check your personal belongings for fingerprints. |
firearms
noun |
weapons that shoot |
It is illegal to carry unregistered firearms such as rifles and pistols. |
gang
noun |
a group of people often associated with crime and drugs |
Stay away from this area at night as there is a lot of gang activity. |
guilty
adjective |
responsible for a crime, deserving of punishment |
You will be considered innocent until you are proven guilty. |
handcuffs
noun |
metal rings that attach to wrists to keep criminals (or the accused)from escaping |
We put your boyfriend in handcuffs, because we saw him climbing through your window and thought he was an intruder. |
innocent
adjective |
not responsible for the crime |
We'll believe you are innocent when you show us your receipt for the items in the bag. |
intruder
noun |
a person who enters a home or business illegally |
Someone called to report an intruder on the third floor. |
jail (prison)
noun |
a place where criminals are confined |
The guards will be patrolling the prison all day long. |
misdemeanor
noun |
a minor crime (punishment is usually a fine or less than one year in jail) |
Stealing a road sign is considered a misdemeanor,but is punishable by a large fine. |
noise complaint
noun |
a call to the police to complain of disturbing noise (usually music or a party) |
Two of your neighbours have made a noise complaint tonight. |
partner noun |
another officer that a policeman drives and works with |
I'm going to get you to tell your story to my partner. |
patrol (on patrol)
verb |
observe and protect an area |
We always patrol the downtown core on the weekends. |
perpetrator
noun |
person who committed the crime |
The perpetrator is still at large. |
pickpocket
noun |
a thief who steals from people's pockets in transit or in crowds |
Beware of pickpockets on the subway. |
pistol
noun |
a hand held firearm
|
Our local cops carry pistols but rarely use them. |
pursuit
noun |
the act of searching for |
We are in pursuit of a man in a green jacket and orange pants. |
radar
noun/adjective |
radio wave transmission that helps police track cars and map crime scenes |
According to our radar you were driving well above the speed limit. |
robbery
noun |
theft; taking something that does not belong to you, often with force |
We have twenty officers investigating the bank robbery. |
speeding ticket
noun |
a fine given to a driver who gets caught driving beyond the speed limit |
Your license shows a clean driving record except for one speeding ticket from five years ago. |
steal
verb |
to take something that does not belong to you |
Do you know who stole your wallet? |
street crime
noun |
crime such as drugs and prostitution |
Don't give the beggars any money. You will only be promoting street crime. |
thief
noun |
somebody who steals |
We have found the thief who stole your car. |
walkie-talkie
noun |
hand held radio each partner carries |
My partner told me your license plate over his walkie-talkie. |
wanted
adjective |
being searched for by police |
A man from your hotel is wanted for his involvement in a murder. |
witness
verb |
to see something happen |
Three people witnessed the murder but they are afraid to speak. |
young offender (juvenile delinquent)
noun |
a minor who commits a crime (usually under age of 18) |
Your punishment will be less severe because you are a young offender. |