to loot
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to loot
To forcefully, and often as part of a group, enter buildings or areas in order to steal valuables, typically during a war, natural disaster, or social unrest.
Nach dem Sturm begannen einige Leute, die verlassenen Geschäfte zu plündern.
After the storm, some people began to loot the abandoned shops.
to raid
Colloquial: to empty something completely and often greedily, for example a refrigerator or a buffet.
Die Kinder haben nach der Schule sofort den Kühlschrank geplündert.
After school, the children immediately raided the refrigerator.
'Plündern' (to loot) is a transitive verb and almost always needs an accusative object. You ask: Whom or what is being looted? The object is the thing or place that is being emptied.
Die Einbrecher haben das ganze Haus geplündert.
The burglars looted the entire house.
In its serious meaning, 'plündern' (to loot) is often connected with places that are violently robbed, for example 'eine Stadt plündern' (to loot a city), 'Geschäfte plündern' (to loot shops), or 'ein Museum plündern' (to loot a museum).
Historische Berichte erzählen, wie die feindlichen Truppen die eroberte Stadt plünderten.
Historical accounts describe how the enemy troops looted the conquered city.
You can tell whether the serious or colloquial meaning is intended from the object. Looting 'Städten' (cities) is literal, while raiding a 'Kühlschrank' (refrigerator) is an exaggerated, humorous way to say 'to eat everything up.'
Nach dem Sport haben die Jungs die Küche geplündert und alle Kekse gegessen.
After sports, the boys raided the kitchen and ate all the cookies.
Using 'plündern' (to raid) for emptying refrigerators or buffets is colloquial and figurative. In a formal text, you would avoid this phrasing.
Kaum waren die Gäste da, wurde auch schon das Kuchenbuffet geplündert.
No sooner had the guests arrived than the cake buffet was already being raided.
to rob / deprive
Berauben and plündern can both involve taking valuables by force. Berauben focuses more on a specific person affected and that person's property, while plündern usually refers to several perpetrators violently emptying buildings or areas. Use the term that matches this respective focus.
Die Aufständischen plünderten während der Unruhen mehrere Geschäfte.
The rebels looted several shops during the unrest.
Die Täter beraubten den Händler während des Überfalls seiner Geldbörse.
The perpetrators robbed the merchant of his wallet during the robbery.
