Reporting a Crime
Crimes in Progress
“An apathetic citizenry cause and condone the release of the hardened criminal.”
J. Edgar Hoover
Crime Fighting
Crime fighting is a community effort and not just a police problem. Witnesses and victims must report crimes, especially crimes in progress. The police would first rather catch a criminal in the act and stop a crime from occurring than write about it after the fact in a report without the opportunity to have been able to interfere.
911 Operators
Talking to the police or a 911 operator is different for each caller. If you are victimized, chances are you will experience shakiness due to fear and anger. If the 911 operator bombards you with a stream of questions that seem cold or detached, do not take it personally; they are attempting to quickly and clearly gather as much information as possible. In a review of 911 operations, George Antunes and Eric Scott (1981) found that most operators were characterized as “terse” or “abrupt”, and were not expansive in their interaction with callers. They also quickly disengaged callers who duplicated previous calls or reports. People are likely to view operators’ curt responses as a sign that citizens should refrain from reporting similar events in the future. Operators have different training, personalities, attitudes, and abilities to cope with stress.
The 911 operator may request you remain on the line to provide updated details that help officers enroute intercept the criminal(s). Discreetly following or staying at a safe distance may be dangerous in the event the criminal becomes violent, especially if the individual is an erratic person, is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or is mentally unstable. They need help but may also pose a danger to themselves and others.
If you do follow, keep your distance. Making yourself known, in some cases, adds pressure and changes criminals’ motivation to continue the crime. Some criminals may become aggressive. Maintaining distance allows more options, which are essential for self-protection.
For most police departments, afternoons and evenings are the busiest times, often resulting in an overload of calls for service. Operators relay the information that you give to police officers enroute. Assist police so they can assist you by taking a deep breath and answering all of their questions. They may be using a computer program that adheres to a specific format for data entry.
Operators will ask for your name and telephone number. This information is critical in case you are disconnected, or an assailant pulls the telephone away. The standard 911 system automatically records the address from which you call, but 911 operators will confirm it if you are using a cellular phone or calling from a location other than the crime scene. Some 911 systems require the operator to enter data into a set number of boxes. Time is lost when you don’t know your exact location while using a cell phone to call for assistance.
If you call from a college campus or business with numerous telephone lines, the college or company’s legal address appears on operator’s screen, not your exact location. For office telephone lines that require pressing 9, 3, or another number for an outside call, post a written reminder on your telephone buttons, because when under stress dialing 911 will result in an incomplete call and wasted time. Reflexively, some people have dialed 411 as habit when wanting to dial 911.
If you are within a building or a school campus, describe exactly where you are. Call campus or building security immediately hanging up from the 911 operator, so security can arrange to guide emergency personnel to your exact location.
Calling 911 from Mobile Cell Phones
In modern society, one of the most effective tools for crime prevention and personal safety is the cell phone. However, be realistic about its limitations and be prepared for contingency options if the cell battery is depleted, reception is unavailable, or the device is inaccessible. Cell phones are mechanical devices that can malfunction at a crucial moment. They cannot protect you from street violence. During an assault, physical skills and tactics are necessary for survival.
When reporting a crime, 911 calls from cell phones may not be routed to the correct local jurisdiction, and the exact address may not be displayed on the 911 system. Not all cell phone GPS systems are accurate, so be prepared to repeat your location if you are transferred to another agency.
Although telephone companies can “ping” a phone to obtain movement and direction, phone company cell phone global positioning systems (GPS) are not accurate or reliable in determining a caller’s location. Depending on where cellular traffic towers are located, cell phone calls are currently being routed to local police and highway patrol dispatch centers. Calls are triangulated from a latitude and longitude Global Positioning System, then translated into an address within 100 yards (meters) of where the calls originate. Some triangulation locators are more accurate than others, in areas where you commonly visit or drive, preprogram your cell phone with the local police agency’s dispatch numbers for direct and faster access to police and fire assistance.
Injuries from Crime
After an assault, injuries initially may feel numb, but once adrenaline and stress drain, pain becomes noticeable. Even if you believe an injury is not serious, alert the 911 operator if you think that you or someone else needs medical treatment so appropriate emergency resources can be dispatched. Some people call 911 and say nothing, which may waste resources and valuable time in the event of life-threatening injuries.
Remembering Details about the Crime
After you have ensured your safety and the safety of others, report the crime. While waiting, begin documenting the event’s details. If you saw the suspect, write down your impressions; note what the suspect was wearing and any unique features or markings, such as scars or tattoos. The more specific, the better because it helps police differentiate from thousands of people who are of similar ethnicity, gender, or height. A gold tooth, a strange accent, a peculiar smell, a tattoo, a scar, or facial hair are specific details that significantly help narrow the pool. If your home has been burglarized while you are waiting for the police, take notes about what is missing.
If you are attacked, you may not remember much about the incident. Trauma frequently obscures the details that may be hidden in your memory. One violently attacked person may remember everything in slow motion but forget faces, whereas another person may only recall specific details like a scar or tattoo. If you have difficulty remembering events or details of an assault, think about a non-threatening time that day, like the moment you awakened, and then imagine progressing through the rest of that day.
Memory techniques may help reconstruct detail and prompt memory recall. Although it may take a few days to recall details, with focused effort, more details will be remembered. It is essential to file a police report to document the incident. Obtain a report number or report receipt. If you recall information later, having the report number will speed up the process by linking new information to the original crime report.
Help the Police Investigation
Reporting a crime helps narrow the investigation and aids with apprehension, especially for crimes in progress. One person may provide a piece of incomplete information, but when multiple people report, the pieces of information combine to change a previously unknown suspect into an identifiable one.
Model Mugging graduates are more inclined to report a crime to the police to be part of the community-fighting crime. The self-confidence they have naturally developed from taking the basic self-defense course empowers them to assist their communities in working with police and others to reduce crime.
A Model Mugging Graduate and crime fighter reported back just four months after graduation:
I just got off work and was sitting in my car when I saw an older male peering into a vehicle near mine. I watched him as he looked through the windows, constantly glancing around to see if anyone was watching him. Then he put his hands on the rear passenger-side window, which was cracked a bit, and started to push down on the window. I opened my door, stood up, and yelled, “What are you doing?” He stopped, backed away from the car, and said, “It’s my friend’s car.” I said, “Bullshit.” and he walked away.
I’ve always had a keen eye for detail and pride myself in paying attention to my surroundings, but before Model Mugging, I most likely would not have noticed this guy. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been on high alert since taking the class, and I’ve seen how differently I carry myself since then. Model Mugging definitely helped me build confidence in my abilities while also recognizing my vulnerabilities. I felt incredibly strong when I confronted him, and in the back of my mind, I knew that I was in a public, heavily trafficked area, it was daylight, and I still had one leg in my car, which meant I could easily get back in if I needed to drive away. Police were not within range, and he was able to escape apprehension.
Awareness for Crime Prevention
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Awareness for Crime Prevention
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