a smash-and-grab raid (British English) un robo donde se rompe el escaparate o cristal y se coge lo que se puede: A car was used in a smash-and-grab raid on a jeweller’s.

arson incendio provocado: The building was destroyed in an arson attack. ^ A man was arrested for arson.

vandalism vandalismo: There’s been an increase in vandalism over the past year. ^ an act of vandalism

rioting disturbios: Rioting broke out as soon as the decision was announced. ^ anti-government rioting

looting saqueos: There was widespread looting in the city centre.

blackmail (somebody into doing something) chantajear (para que alguien haga algo) blackmail chantaje: His lover tried to blackmail him. ^ They had been blackmailed into silence.

extortion extorsión: He went around the city obtaining money by extortion.

blow a safe abrir una caja fuerte (con explosivos): Breaking into the house won’t be enough without a guy who knows how to blow a safe.

break/crack a safe forzar una caja fuerte: The thieves managed to crack the safe.

break into a house allanar un domicilio break-in allanamiento de morada: My neighbour’s house was broken into last month. ^ Due to recent break-ins, more people are installing a security system in their homes.

bribe sobornar bribery soborno: The man tried to bribe a councillor. ^ He was under investigation on suspicion of bribery to get the contract.

burgle robar en casas o tiendas burglary robo: This is the third house in the neighbourhood that has been burgled. ^ If you go on holiday, take some precautions to prevent being burgled. ^ Burglaries are on the rise in this area.

con (informal) estafar, timar, engañar a alguien [especially to get money]): He conned the woman out of $5,000.

cook the books falsificar la información, amañar las cuentas: Someone had been cooking the books in the company for years.

drug trafficking narcotráfico: the fight against drug trafficking

embezzle desfalcar, malversar fondos embezzlement desfalco, malversación de fondos: He had embezzled large amounts of money. ^ an embezzlement scandal ^ There’ll be an investigation into the embezzlement of public funds.

fiddle (British English, informal) hacer chanchullos, cometer fraude [by giving false information]: fiddle the accounts/the books/the figures/the finances ^ Don’t try to fiddle your taxes.

forge falsificar [a document, painting or paper money] forgery falsificación: a forged passport/signature ^ The painting was a forgery.

fence (informal) traficar con objetos robados: He had been fencing laptops until he was arrested.

hijack secuestrar [a plane, ship or vehicle] hijacking / hijack secuestro: The plane was hijacked by a group of terrorists.

carjack robar un vehículo [using force or threats] carjacking robo de un vehículo: Muggings and carjackings are a serious problem in this area.

hold-up / stick-up (informal): atraco [a person or place, using a weapon]: a bank hold-up ^ Nobody move, this is a stick-up!

kidnap raptar kidnap / kidnapping rapto, secuestro: His wife was kidnapped at gunpoint on her way to work.

racketeering mafia, crimen organizado: He was accused of racketeering.

ram-raid (British English) robar mediante alunizaje ram-raiding / ram-raid alunizaje: They ram-raided a jewellery shop. ^ a ram-raid robbery/attack ^ Ram-raiding had been unheard-of in this town until yesterday. ^ He was caught on camera taking part in a ram-raid.

rape violar rape violación: The predator was given a long sentence for raping five women. ^ He committed the rape shortly after his release from prison.

gang rape violación grupal: Gang rape has been on the increase in the past year.

swindle estafar swindle estafa: The travel agency had swindled its customers out of €40,000. ^ I think we’ve been swindled. ^ The police are investigating an insurance swindle.

smuggle pasar de contrabando [goods, drugs, etc.], introducir de forma ilegal [migrants] smuggling contrabando, tráfico de migrantes: They were caught trying to smuggle weapons out of the country. ^ The immigrants were smuggled into Spain. ^ drug/people/arms smuggling

gun-running contrabando de armas [especially to be used against the government]: a successful gun-running operation

banditry bandolerismo: Banditry was common in these sierras.

terrorism terrorismo: an act of terrorism ^ international/global terrorism ^ We will combat terrorism with all the resources available.

IDIOMS

be on the fiddle (British English, informal) andar con trapicheos/chanchullos: He’s the type of guy who’s probably on the fiddle.

get away with murder (informal) irse de rositas, salirse con la suya: I know he’s just 13, but don’t let him get away with murder.