Police Stop Fire Attacks in Scotland and Australia

May 13, 2026, 21:12

Introduction

Police in Scotland and Australia caught criminals. These people started fires and hurt others.

Main Body

In Scotland, three men started fires at houses and a shop. They used petrol to start the fires. Police used cameras to find them. The men wanted money for drugs. Now, two men must go to prison for seven years and one man for three years. In Australia, police caught a 17-year-old boy. He went into a house with a gun. Police think he is part of a group that starts fires at bars and clubs. This group is dangerous. Police in Australia are working hard. They have a special team to find these criminals. So far, they arrested 44 people. They watch the streets to find more bad people.

Conclusion

Police in both countries use special teams to stop gangs and fire attacks.

Learning

⚡️ Action Words (Past vs. Present)

In this story, we see how words change when something happened before and when it is happening now.

The Past (Finished) When the police finished their work, they used these words:

caught $\rightarrow$ (They found the person)
started $\rightarrow$ (The fire began)
used $\rightarrow$ (They had a tool)
wanted $\rightarrow$ (They had a wish for money)

The Present (Now/Always) When we talk about the current situation, we use these words:

is $\rightarrow$ (He is a boy)
are $\rightarrow$ (They are working)
have $\rightarrow$ (They own a team)

💡 Quick Tip for A2 Learners: Notice that most "Past" words in this text end in -ed. This is the easiest way to tell the difference between a story about yesterday and a fact about today.

Vocabulary Learning

police (n.)

law enforcement officers who maintain public order

Example:The police arrived at the scene quickly.

fire (n.)

a blaze or flame that can burn things

Example:She put out the small fire in the kitchen.

houses (n.)

buildings where people live

Example:The houses in the neighborhood are all painted blue.

shop (n.)

a small store where goods are sold

Example:I bought a new book at the shop.

petrol (n.)

fuel used for cars and other vehicles

Example:He filled the car with petrol.

cameras (n.)

devices that take pictures or videos

Example:The cameras captured the entire event.

money (n.)

currency used for buying things

Example:She saved her money for a trip.

drugs (n.)

substances used for medical or harmful purposes

Example:The police seized illegal drugs.

prison (n.)

a place where criminals are kept

Example:He was sent to prison for his crime.

dangerous (adj.)

able to cause harm or injury

Example:The situation was dangerous and needed help.