criminal complaint
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criminal complaint
An official report to a criminal prosecution authority, such as the police or public prosecutor's office, about a situation that could be a criminal offense. This initiates the investigation.
Wegen des Diebstahls hat er bei der Polizei eine Strafanzeige gegen Unbekannt erstattet.
Because of the theft, he filed a criminal complaint with the police against an unknown person.
The word is made up of 'die Strafe' (punishment) and 'die Anzeige' (report/complaint). So it is a report that can lead to a punishment.
Eine Strafanzeige ist der Beginn eines Ermittlungsverfahrens.
A criminal complaint is the beginning of an investigation procedure.
The most important verb in this context is 'erstatten' (to file). The fixed phrase is 'Strafanzeige erstatten' (to file a criminal complaint). Colloquially, you also hear 'eine Anzeige machen' (to make/file a complaint).
Nach dem Einbruch hat die Familie sofort Strafanzeige erstattet.
After the break-in, the family immediately filed a criminal complaint.
You file a criminal complaint 'bei' an authority (e.g., 'bei der Polizei' — with the police). The complaint is directed 'gegen' a person or 'gegen Unbekannt' (against an unknown person).
Sie erstattete bei der Polizei Strafanzeige gegen ihren Nachbarn.
She filed a criminal complaint with the police against her neighbor.
