Reporting a theft to the police

1. 1
   theft/θeft/

   noun

   The crime of taking what is not yours.
2. 2
   steal/stiːl/

   verb

   To take something that belongs to somebody else.
3. 3
   witness/ˈwɪtnəs/

   noun

   Somebody who saw what happened.
4. 4
   insurance/ˌɪnˈʃʊrəns/

   noun

   A payment that covers you if something is lost.
5. 5
   officer/ˈɔːfəsər/

   noun

   A member of the police.
6. 6
   crowded/ˈkraʊdəd/

   adjective

   Full of people.
7. 7
   value/ˈvæljuː/

   noun

   How much something is worth.
8. 8
   copy/ˈkɑːpi/

   noun

   A second version of a document.
9. 9
   suspect/səˈspekt/

   verb

   To think somebody is guilty.
10. 10
    translate/trænzˈleɪt/iAlso said trænˈsleɪt.

    verb

    To put words into another language.

The sentences

1. I need to report a theft, please.

2. Somebody managed to steal it from my bag.

3. There was no witness that I saw.

4. My insurance needs a written report.

5. Could another officer take my statement?

6. The street was extremely crowded at the time.

7. The value was about a hundred pounds.

8. May I have a copy for myself?

9. I suspect it happened on the bus.

10. Could somebody translate the form for me?

Pronunciation

• theft/θeft/

  Hard TH at the start and FT at the end, with no vowel between.

• steal/stiːl/

  It sounds exactly like steel.

• witness/ˈwɪtnəs/

  Two syllables, stress on the first: WIT-ness.

• insurance/ˌɪnˈʃʊrəns/

  Stress the second syllable: in-SHUR-ance.

• officer/ˈɔːfəsər/

  Three syllables, stress on the first: OF-i-ser.

• translate/trænzˈleɪt/

  Stress the first syllable in America: TRANS-late.

Questions

How do I say someone saw it happen?

You call that person a witness, as in "There was no witness that I saw."

What do I say if I need the report for insurance?

You can say "My insurance needs a written report."

How do I ask for a second copy of the report?

You say "May I have a copy for myself?"