Reporting Crime and Suspicious Activity

What number do I call?

Emergency vs. Non- Emergency

Emergencies
Call 9-1-1 in an emergency situations like:

"My house is on fire."
"I think I'm having a heart attack."
"There's been a traffic accident. People are hurt."
"Someone with a gun is robbing a store."
"I see someone trying to break into my neighbor's house."
"I hear someone trying to break into my house."

Non-Emergencies
Call 272-2400 in non-emergency situations like:

"My car was stolen last night."
"My house was broken into while I was at work."
"My neighbors are playing loud music."
"Someone stole my bicycle."
"There is someone dumping trash in the desert."

Things That Might Signal a Crime

Someone running from a car or home.
Someone screaming. If you can't explain the screams, call the Sheriff's Department and report them.
Someone going door-to-door in the neighborhood or looking into windows and parked cars.
Someone trying the handles on cars parked in the street or driveways.
Someone asking about past residents.
Someone who appears to have no purpose wandering through your neighborhood.
Unusual or suspicious noises that you cannot explain, such as breaking glass or pounding.
Vehicles moving slowly without lights or without any apparent destination.
Business transactions conducted from a vehicle. This could involve the sale of drugs or stolen goods.
A lot of "traffic" or visitors to one residence, who stay for very short periods of time, such as five minutes or less. This could involve the sale of drugs.
Someone walking or running while carrying property at an unusual time or place.
Property being taken out of houses where no one is home or closed businesses.
A stranger entering a neighbor's home which appears to be unoccupied.
A child resisting the advances of an adult.
A stranger sitting in a car or stopping to talk to a child.
Abandoned cars.
Anyone being forced into a vehicle.

How to Report Suspicious Activity or Crime in Progress

Call the appropriate phone number, either 911 or 272-2400.
Briefly describe the event. State concisely what happened, where, when and who was involved.
State if the crime is in progress or if it has already occurred.
Be prepared to provide as complete a description as possible of any suspects. Describe the suspect's sex and race, age, height, weight, hair color, clothing and any distinctive characteristics such as a beard, mustache, scars, tattoos or accents.
If there is a vehicle involved, describe the color, make, model, year, license plate and special features such as stickers, dents or decals.
If the vehicle and/or suspect leave the location, note which direction they headed and the approximate time.
If you are calling to report a problem and the situation changes before the deputy arrives, call back and provide the updated information. This may change the priority level in regard to the response from the Sheriff's Department.

May I report crime or suspicious activity anonymously?

Yes. When you call 911 the address of the location of the phone automatically appears on the 911 operator's computer screen. When you call the business line (272-2400) the dispatcher has no information other than what you provide. Regardless of the number you call, you may request to be an "anonymous informant." The public safety office recommends providing at least your name and phone number, however, in the event they need additional information.

Who answers 911 when I call from my cell phone?

Cellular calls to 911 are answered by a communications center in Los Angeles and disbatched to the approrpiatre, local agency. The operators at the center only receive the phone number of the caller, not their location.