police call / Polizeiruf
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police call
A call to the police to report an emergency, a crime, or a suspicious situation.
Nachdem sie die zerbrochene Scheibe bemerkt hatte, tätigte die Nachbarin sofort einen Polizeiruf.
After noticing the broken window, the neighbor immediately made a police call.
The word is simply made up of 'Polizei' (police) and 'der Ruf' (call). So it literally describes a call directed to the police.
Der laute Schrei in der Nacht war der Grund für den Polizeiruf.
The loud scream in the night was the reason for the police call.
You can easily recognize the meaning from the context. If an emergency is being discussed, it means the call. If the sentence mentions television, Sunday evening, or the number '110', however, it is about the famous crime series.
Ein anonymer Polizeiruf führte die Beamten zum Tatort.
An anonymous police call led the officers to the crime scene.
When someone calls the police, the formal expression 'einen Polizeiruf absetzen' (to place a police call) or 'tätigen' (to make) is often used. This is typical of reporting or official language.
Der Zeuge hat sofort nach dem Vorfall einen Polizeiruf abgesetzt.
The witness placed a police call immediately after the incident.
'Polizeiruf 110' is the name of a very well-known German crime series that was originally produced in East Germany. It is a fixed part of German television culture.
Meine Eltern haben schon zu DDR-Zeiten jeden Polizeiruf gesehen.
My parents watched every episode of Polizeiruf even back in East German times.
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'die Anzeige' and 'der Polizeiruf' can both have to do with the police. An 'Anzeige' is an official report of a crime to the police or another authority. A 'Polizeiruf' is a call to the police, for example in an emergency or a suspicious situation. So you can first make a police call and later file an 'Anzeige'. There is a risk of confusion because both report a problem to the police, but 'Anzeige' is more official and legal.
Als ich den Unfall sah, war ein Polizeiruf sofort nötig.
When I saw the accident, a call to the police was needed immediately.
Nach dem Diebstahl hat Maria bei der Polizei Anzeige erstattet.
After the theft, Maria filed a police report with the police.