As the additional “eyes and ears” of law enforcement, citizens can help to reduce crime, improve safety and increase the quality of neighborhood life by knowing what to report and how to report it. Now more than ever, citizens are needed to come forward and provide valuable information. Remember, don’t be shy – your job is simply to report, and police will take your call seriously and check out the situation. What you see and report may be invaluable and may save lives.
It can be confusing about what to report and when to report it. Suspicious activities can refer to incidents, events, individuals or circumstances that seem unusual. Some common examples of suspicious activities include a stranger loitering in your neighborhood or a vehicle cruising the streets repeatedly; someone peering into cars or windows; a high volume of traffic going to and coming from a home on a daily basis; someone loitering around schools or secluded areas; strange odors coming from a house or building; open or broken doors and windows at a closed business or unoccupied residence; sounds of breaking glass, gunshots, screaming or fighting; strangers removing license plates or loading valuables into vehicles from a residence.
A quick and accurate description of events, vehicles, and persons can make all the difference in apprehending a potential criminal. Any type of activity or circumstance that seems unusual should be reported. Citizens should generally report suspicious activities, people and vehicles, Illegal activities, unusual events or incidents and dangerous situations.
By reporting these types of suspicious activities, citizens can help police make their communities safer and more secure, reduce violence, minimize victimization, reduce crime and violence and improve the overall quality of life. When reporting suspicious persons, provide as much detail as possible. Start with the basics and get more specific. One reliable method to consistently make good suspect descriptions is to begin at the head and work your way down.
When reporting suspicious vehicles, provide as much information as possible about the vehicle, its occupants, the license plate or any identifying marks or characteristics, its activities and direction of travel. If you have a pen and paper handy, write down the information so you can read it to the police.
When reporting locations of suspicious activities, provide as much information as possible. An exact location and specific address is always best if possible. Provide landmarks that can be recognized by police. Describe the location with as much detail as possible.