What should you do if you see a crime in progress? What if you're the victim of a crime? Although those in the United States are not legally obligated to report a crime, you should consider it your duty to do so. After all, wouldn't you want someone else to do the same for you?
If you are witness to a crime, either violent or otherwise, you can and should report the crime to authorities. There are a variety of ways that you can report crimes, including via phone or in person. If you witness a violent crime in action you should call the police immediately and report the nature and location of the crime so that they can respond quickly. In most cases, it's wiser to call the police immediately rather than trying to get in the middle of a violent confrontation.
To report a crime by phone, you should call either 911 or the non-emergency hotline in your area, depending on the situation. Most cities have non-emergency hotlines set up in order to field minor crimes such as vandalism, or reporting a crime after the fact. Contact the police via the non-emergency number will not interfere with 911 operators who may be fielding more pressing calls.
If the crime is violent in nature, or still in progress, you should contact the police by dialing 911 for the emergency line. Do not be afraid to call them - after all, the emergency dispatchers are there to help you. Even if you think you have the situation under control, call them. Be prepared to provide as many details as possible, including your name, a contact number, and your location, as specifically as you can. The police will show up as quickly as possible, which can vary depending on the nature and severity of the emergency.
What if you want to report a crime or suspicious situation that's not an emergency? For example, you've recently spotted graffiti on a fence, you think one of the neighbors might be involved in selling drugs, or there's a car parked on your street that hasn't moved in weeks. For these types of situations, you may want to contact the local police department in order to talk to an officer on duty and/or a detective. You'll want to use your discretion when deciding what method to use in order to report to the authorities. It's a good idea to have both the emergency and non-emergency numbers posted in your home and programmed into your cell phone, so that you don't have to look them up in a time of need.
If you decide that you would like to report a crime anonymously, there may be a crime hotline in your area. Companies like Crime Stoppers and other independent groups may offer their services so that your report can remain reasonably anonymous, if this is a concern to you.
Regardless of how you contact the authorities, you should expect the process to include:
1) Stating the nature of the crime.
2) Providing the location of the crime.
3) Providing a description of suspects
4) Explaining where you were located when you witnessed the crime.
If police decide to investigate the crime further, or need a witness to verify the nature of the crime, you may be asked to provide an official statement or testify in court. Again, the nature of the crime will influence the amount of interaction you will need to have with the police following the report.
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