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Lesson

A Missing Bike in the Old Town

crime
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Word Bank

These words appear in the reading and the exercises below. Hover or click a word to see its definition.

burglary n.The crime of breaking into a building to steal.He was sent to prison for burglary. robbery n.The crime of stealing from a place using threats or violence.The bank robbery was over in two minutes. assault n.The crime of physically attacking someone.He was arrested and charged with assault. murder n.The crime of intentionally killing someone.He went to prison for murder. kidnapping n.The crime of taking someone by force and keeping them to get money.The police were investigating a kidnapping. burglar n.A person who breaks into a building to steal.The police caught the burglar as he left the house. robber n.A person who steals from a place using threats or violence.The robber ran out of the shop with the money. murderer n.A person who intentionally kills someone.The murderer showed no regret in court. kidnapper n.A person who takes someone by force and demands money.The kidnapper called the family and asked for money. fraudster n.A person who lies or tricks others to get money.The fraudster took thousands of euros from his clients. arrest v.To take someone away because the police think they committed a crime.The police arrested the man for robbery. suspect n.A person who the police think may have committed a crime.The suspect was arrested at his home. trial n.A formal meeting in court to decide if someone is guilty.The trial lasted three weeks. evidence n.Facts or information that show if something is true or not.The jury looked carefully at all the evidence. verdict n.The final decision in a trial about whether someone is guilty or not.The jury reached a guilty verdict.
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Full vocabulary notes (examples, collocations, related words)
burglary noun · in the reading — The crime of breaking into a building to steal. He was sent to prison for burglary.Collocations: commit burglary,charge with burglary,burglary at a house,burglary caseRelated: break-in,housebreakingNotes: Often with commit.
robbery noun · in the reading — The crime of stealing from a place using threats or violence. The bank robbery was over in two minutes.Collocations: commit robbery,armed robbery,robbery at the bank,robbery chargeRelated: theft,hold-upNotes: Often with armed.
assault noun — The crime of physically attacking someone. He was arrested and charged with assault.Collocations: commit assault,assault charge,assault on a man,violent assaultRelated: attackNotes: Often used with charge with.
murder noun — The crime of intentionally killing someone. He went to prison for murder.Collocations: commit murder,charge with murder,murder case,murder trialRelated: killing,homicideNotes: Very serious crime.
kidnapping noun — The crime of taking someone by force and keeping them to get money. The police were investigating a kidnapping.Collocations: commit kidnapping,kidnapping case,kidnapping for ransom,kidnapping of a childRelated: abductionNotes: Often linked with ransom.
burglar noun · in the reading — A person who breaks into a building to steal. The police caught the burglar as he left the house.Collocations: professional burglar,masked burglar,caught the burglar,burglar broke inRelated: thief,robberNotes: Person who commits burglary.
robber noun · in the reading — A person who steals from a place using threats or violence. The robber ran out of the shop with the money.Collocations: bank robber,armed robber,masked robber,robber with a gunRelated: thief,burglarNotes: Person who commits robbery.
murderer noun — A person who intentionally kills someone. The murderer showed no regret in court.Collocations: dangerous murderer,serial murderer,cold-blooded murderer,catch the murdererRelated: killerNotes: Person who commits murder.
kidnapper noun — A person who takes someone by force and demands money. The kidnapper called the family and asked for money.Collocations: kidnapper demanded a ransom,catch the kidnapper,unknown kidnapper,kidnapper escapedRelated: abductorNotes: Person who commits kidnapping.
fraudster noun · in the reading — A person who lies or tricks others to get money. The fraudster took thousands of euros from his clients.Collocations: online fraudster,clever fraudster,catch the fraudster,professional fraudsterRelated: con artist,scammerNotes: Person who commits fraud.
arrest verb · in the reading — To take someone away because the police think they committed a crime. The police arrested the man for robbery.Collocations: arrest a suspect,arrest someone for theft,be arrested,place under arrestRelated: take into custody,detainNotes: Often followed by for + crime.
suspect noun · in the reading — A person who the police think may have committed a crime. The suspect was arrested at his home.Collocations: a suspect,the main suspect,crime suspect,suspect in the caseRelated: person under investigationNotes: Can also be used as a verb (to suspect).
trial noun · in the reading — A formal meeting in court to decide if someone is guilty. The trial lasted three weeks.Collocations: go on trial,stand trial,criminal trial,trial in courtRelated: court case,hearingNotes: Key word for court process.
evidence noun · in the reading — Facts or information that show if something is true or not. The jury looked carefully at all the evidence.Collocations: look at the evidence,strong evidence,clear evidence,lack of evidenceRelated: proofNotes: Uncountable in this meaning.
verdict noun · in the reading — The final decision in a trial about whether someone is guilty or not. The jury reached a guilty verdict.Collocations: reach a verdict,return a verdict,guilty verdict,not-guilty verdictRelated: decisionNotes: Usually reached by a jury.

Reading

Read the text, then try the exercises below.

Once a month, Sabine Krüger spends a day at Volta Drive in Gliwice, and in the evening she has dinner in the Old Town. This time Marek Nowicki walked there with her. On the way, they passed a small bike shop that sells Volta’s e-bikes. The glass in the door was broken, and the owner was standing outside, talking to two police officers. Someone had broken in during the afternoon and taken the most expensive e-bike from the window.

Sabine listened for a moment. ‘Let’s be precise,’ she said. ‘Was this a robbery or a burglary?’ One of the officers smiled. ‘A burglary. A robber uses threats or violence against people. Nobody was in the shop, so we are looking for a burglar.’ He explained that a camera across the street had filmed a man leaving with the bike. The video was their best evidence.

Two days later, Marek called Sabine in Stuttgart. The police had arrested a suspect in Zabrze. The e-bike was in his garage, and he was also a fraudster: he sold stolen bikes online as ‘new’. ‘The trial will probably be in the spring,’ Marek said. ‘I hope the verdict comes quickly. The shop owner lost a lot of money.’ Sabine was quiet for a second. ‘Then let’s help our shops,’ she said. ‘Better locks and cameras for every shop that sells our bikes. Send me the numbers by Friday.’

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