French for Reporting a Theft to the Police: Filing a Plainte
Learn to say 'My wallet was stolen' in French and handle the key steps of filing a theft report at a French police station or gendarmerie.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
If your wallet disappears in France, you will likely need to file a report called une plainte. This lesson teaches the exact sentences you need at the counter: stating what was stolen, giving the location and time, and asking for a copy of the report for your insurance. You will practice the passive construction 'On m'a volé...' and the formal vocabulary officers expect, so you can communicate clearly even under stress.
By the end, you can…
- state that my wallet was stolen using a natural French passive construction.
- describe when and where the theft happened to a police officer.
- ask for a copy of the report for insurance purposes.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
On m'a volé mon portefeuille.
My wallet was stolen.
ohn mah voh-LAY mohn por-tuh-FUH-yuh
The standard, natural way to report a theft. Literally 'Someone stole my wallet from me.' Use this instead of a word-for-word passive.
Je voudrais déposer une plainte pour vol.
I would like to file a theft report.
zhuh voo-DREH day-poh-ZAY ewn plent poor vol
Say this at the front desk of a commissariat or gendarmerie. 'Déposer une plainte' is the standard collocation.
Mon sac a été volé dans le métro.
My bag was stolen on the metro.
mohn sak ah ay-TAY voh-LAY dahn luh may-TROH
Use 'a été volé' when you want to emphasize the object rather than the thief. Common for bags and phones.
C'était hier soir, vers 22 heures, près de la gare.
It was last night, around 10 p.m., near the station.
say-TEH ee-yehr swahr, vehr vahnt-duh ZUHR, preh duh lah gar
Officers always ask for time and place. 'Vers' means 'around' and softens an approximate time.
Est-ce que je peux avoir une copie du procès-verbal ?
Can I have a copy of the report?
ess-kuh zhuh puh ah-VWAHR ewn koh-PEE doo proh-say-vehr-BAL
A 'procès-verbal' is the official written record. You need it for insurance claims and to replace documents.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
French avoids the English-style passive 'was stolen' by using 'on m'a volé' plus the object: 'On m'a volé mon portefeuille' (My wallet was stolen). The indirect object pronoun 'm'' marks the victim. For other people, change the pronoun: 'On lui a volé son sac' (His/her bag was stolen), 'On nous a volé nos valises' (Our suitcases were stolen). You can also use 'avoir été volé': 'Mon téléphone a été volé.' Both are correct; 'on m'a volé' sounds more conversational.
When to use it
Use 'On m'a volé...' when speaking to an officer or a friend about the theft. Use 'déposer une plainte' when you formally start the process, and 'porter plainte' when you announce the act: 'Je veux porter plainte.' If the theft happened online or by card fraud, say 'J'ai été victime d'une fraude.' For lost rather than stolen items, use 'J'ai perdu mon portefeuille' — do not say 'volé' if there was no theft.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, je voudrais déposer une plainte pour vol.
Hello, I would like to file a theft report.bohn-ZHOOR, zhuh voo-DREH day-poh-ZAY ewn plent poor volTrès bien. Qu'est-ce qui vous a été volé ?
Very well. What was stolen from you?treh BYEN. kess-kee voo zah ay-TAY voh-LAYOn m'a volé mon portefeuille dans le métro, hier soir vers 22 heures.
My wallet was stolen on the metro last night around 10 p.m.ohn mah voh-LAY mohn por-tuh-FUH-yuh dahn luh may-TROH, ee-yehr swahr vehr vahnt-duh ZUHRD'accord. Je note. Vous aurez une copie du procès-verbal pour votre assurance.
All right. I am noting it down. You will get a copy of the report for your insurance.dah-KOR. zhuh NOT. voo zoh-RAY ewn koh-PEE doo proh-say-vehr-BAL poor votr ah-soo-RAHNSA little context goes a long way
In France, you file a theft report at a commissariat de police in cities or a gendarmerie in rural areas. Since 2021, you can also file certain property crimes online via the 'pré-plainte en ligne' service, but you must then confirm it in person. Officers may seem formal and direct; this is standard administrative register, not unfriendliness. Always ask for the 'procès-verbal' or a 'récépissé' — without it, insurers and the préfecture may refuse your claim.
One thing to watch for
Mon portefeuille était volé.
Try this instead: This uses the imperfect, suggesting an ongoing state, and sounds wrong for a single event. Say 'On m'a volé mon portefeuille' or 'Mon portefeuille a été volé' with the passé composé to report the completed theft.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'My phone was stolen' using the natural 'on' construction?
Show a sample answer
On m'a volé mon téléphone.
The pronoun 'm'' marks you as the victim and 'mon téléphone' is the stolen object. 'Mon téléphone a été volé' is also correct but slightly more formal.
2You want to start the formal process. What sentence do you say at the counter?
Show a sample answer
Je voudrais déposer une plainte pour vol.
'Déposer une plainte' is the standard phrase for filing. 'Je veux porter plainte' also works, though 'je voudrais' is more polite.
3Which document should you request for your insurance?
Show a sample answer
Est-ce que je peux avoir une copie du procès-verbal ?
The 'procès-verbal' is the official report. A 'récépissé' (receipt) may also be issued; both can support an insurance claim.
Memorize 'On m'a volé mon portefeuille' and 'Je voudrais déposer une plainte pour vol', then always ask for the 'procès-verbal' before you leave the station.
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