All of our staff members here at FPO are conducting our Facebook page to alert you, our fellow citizens, on what is happening in your neighborhoods and throughout the city via police scanner traffic. We here at FPO are always encouraging YOU that if you “See Something, Say Something”. What we mean by this is if you see something suspicious call it in! If you witness a crime, call it in! If you know of illegal activity, call it in to the police!
Remember, you know your surroundings and your neighborhood better than anyone else. Use your good judgement and common sense as a guide for when reporting an incident. Don’t wait until you become the victim! Always REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES IMMEDIATELY!
So how do you become a good witness and what type of information is helpful to the police? First, call 9-1-1 in an emergency or use the non-emergency number. (Flint Police 810-237-6812) Once you reach a dispatcher, give the dispatcher your location as accurately as possible and describe the suspicious activity.
If possible, use a pen and paper with you to write things down as they happen or immediately thereafter. The longer you wait to write down the information, the more you will forget. DO NOT GUESS!
WHAT IS SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY?
Suspicious Activity is anything that is out of the ordinary. If any situation in your neighborhood makes you feel uncomfortable, then is time for you to call the police and give them the heads up. You may be the critical link in preventing a crime or in the apprehension of a criminal.
You should use your own judgment on determining what is abnormal behavior in your neighborhood.
A few examples of suspicious activities include but not limited to:
- Someone entering your neighbor’s house when it is unoccupied.
- Someone who knocks on your neighbor’s front door and when no one answers, walks to the back of the house.
- Someone who appears to be moving household items when no one is at home or when you know the neighbor isn’t moving.
- A slow-moving vehicle with unidentified occupants. Driving, especially, without lights and following an aimless or repetitive course.
- An unfamiliar car left running and/or parked on your street.
- Someone screaming or any noise you cannot explain (such as gun shots, alarms or windows being broken).
- A child resisting the advances of an adult.
- Excessive traffic to and from a residence or business especially during unusual hours.
When you call in a crime, suspecious activity, etc., it is important to get the most detailed description as you can while remaining safe and not putting the safety of others in jeopardy either. The more descriptive you are the better opportunity for the police to apprehend the perpetrator. Below we have compiled some tips on how to get that accurate description to the police.
Here is a list of descriptors that help police find the crooks. Commit them to memory for when the time comes to be a good witness.
YOUR LOCATION:
- Give the dispatcher your exact location.
- Allow the dispatcher to ask questions.
- Do not hang up until directed by the dispatcher.
THE ENVIRONMENT:
- What is the suspicious activity/crime?
- When did it occur? Time of day?
- Where did it occur?
SUSPECT INFORMATION:
- Gender
- Estimated age
- Race
- Height and weight
- Skin tone
- Clothing description
- Hair color and style, including facial hair.
- Eye color and shape, glasses
- Tattoos, scars, birthmarks
- Weapons; gun, knife, stick, ect
- Direction the suspect fled and how?
- Suspects identity if you happen to know the person.
- Any other distinguishing features.
VEHICLES INVOLVED:
- Remember the acronym “CYMBALS”
C= Color of the vehicle
Y= Year
M= Make
B= Body type
A= Additional descriptive features. Such as damage to the vehicle.
L= License plate number
S= State of the license plate
- How many occupants?
- Last direction of travel?
It is up to US to help our understaffed police force. It is up to US to STAND UP and do our CIVIC DUTY! See something, say something!
A special thank you to our hard working police, fire and EMS!
Information was gathered from http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=14070
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