Lesson 39 – Reporting Theft to the Police
🎯 Lesson goal
You will practise how to report a theft at the police station. You will learn how to explain the situation and ask important questions.
💬 Travel dialogue
🧳 Hello, I need to report a theft from my hotel room.
👮 I am sorry to hear that. Can you tell me exactly what was stolen?
🧳 Yes, my backpack with my passport, phone, and wallet is missing.
👮 When did you notice the items were missing?
🧳 I left the room last night and found everything gone this morning.
👮 Was the door or window broken or forced open?
🧳 No, the door was locked, but I think someone had a key.
👮 Do you have any idea who could have done this?
🧳 No, I do not know anyone here well enough to suspect.
👮 Please give me your contact details and a list of the stolen items.
🧳 Sure, I will also provide a copy of my hotel room key.
👮 Thank you. We will start an investigation and contact you if we find anything.
🧳 How long does it usually take to get updates?
👮 It varies, but we try to give news within a few days.
🧳 Thank you for your help. I hope you can find my belongings.
🧠 Explanation
This lesson helps you practice reporting a theft to the police while traveling. You learn how to explain what happened clearly and how to ask questions about the process. This is useful for staying calm and communicating well in emergencies.
🧳 Survival English
🧳 I need to report a stolen item. (Start reporting a theft.)
🧳 Can you help me, please? (Ask for assistance politely.)
🧳 What information do you need? (Ask about necessary details.)
💡 Common English mistake
❌ My bag was stole from the hotel.
✅ My bag was stolen from the hotel.
🔊 Pronunciation
In ‘police,’ the stress is on the second syllable: po-LICE, not PO-lice.
🌍 Travel tip
Always keep a copy of important documents separately when traveling. This helps police identify your items if theft happens.
🎧 Listen and repeat
🎧 Hello, I need to report a theft from my hotel room.
🎧 Yes, my backpack with my passport, phone, and wallet is missing.
🎧 I left the room last night and found everything gone this morning.
🎧 No, the door was locked, but I think someone had a key.
🎧 No, I do not know anyone here well enough to suspect.
🎧 Sure, I will also provide a copy of my hotel room key.
🎧 How long does it usually take to get updates?
🎧 Thank you for your help. I hope you can find my belongings.
🧩 Mini Practice
Repeat these sentences aloud.
Say: I need to report a theft.
Ask: Can you tell me what was stolen?
Say: My passport and phone were taken.
Ask: When did you notice the theft?
Say: The door was locked, but the items are missing.
Ask: Do you have any idea who took it?
Say: I will give you a list of the stolen things.
Ask: Can I get updates about the investigation?
Say: Thank you for helping me with this problem.
Ask: What documents do I need to provide?
🧳 Glossary
| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| theft | When someone takes your things without permission. |
| report | To tell the police about a problem or crime. |
| missing | Something that is lost or taken and cannot be found. |
| investigation | The police work to find out what happened. |
| stolen items | Objects taken by someone without your permission. |
| copy of key | A duplicate key used to open a door. |
| contact details | Information like phone number or email to reach someone. |
| locked door | A door closed and fastened with a key or lock. |
✅ Quick check
Can you understand the dialogue and repeat the important sentences?