How to Report Crime Information to Police

Related Information Suspect Description Worksheet

he citizens of Philadelphia are the best "eyes and ears" that our communities have. Crimes are, in most cases, observed by someone. We need those who witness crimes or hear others bragging about committing them to come forward and assist us. We need your eyes and ears: and we need your voice to report what you know.

People may be unsure of how to report what they have seen, or whether the information that they have will be of any value to police. First, let us address the second question.

The Philadelphia Police Department is interested in any snippet of information that you may wish to provide. Please don't rely on your own measure of its relative worth in an investigation. The one piece of seemingly unimportant information you report, whether it be that you heard a dog barking at 4am in the morning that you never heard barking before, or have more direct information, please don't hesitate to report it to the Police Department. That one, tiny piece of information that only you have may be the final piece of the puzzle necessary to close a case and obtain a conviction.

Another thing to remember is that we are not just interested in getting information about crimes that have already occurred. If you know of ongoing criminal activity or know about a crime that is about to be committed, we want to hear about that as well.

Information can be sent to the police department in a variety of ways. We've itemized them below. Please don't hesitate to give us the information you have. Remember, its not just about catching criminals, its about saving lives.

Very Important
While we are interested in any information you may have, the most important piece of information that you will need to know in most cases is where the crime occurred. If you also know when it happened then that's a big help but we have to know where the crime occurred so we can take your information and pass it on to the proper unit investigation the crime you have information about. In some cases, the crime is so well known that you won't need to tell us where it happened but for many crimes we will need to know which crime you are giving us information about.

Tell a Police Officer
Many people are reluctant to just walk up to an officer and tell them that they have information about a crime but shouldn't be. The presence of an officer is the perfect chance to share what you know. That's what the officer WANTS you to do. Tell the officer what you know. The officer will probably have a few questions so they can better isolate the incident and clarify your information. You don't have to give your name and can remain anonymous although its always better if you are willing to share your name.

My Postal Mail
Sending a note to the police by mail is very easy. You could use the postal service and actually mail a letter to your local police district or you could simply put the letter in an envelope and drop it off at the police station. If you want to mail your letter, please refer to the police district directory to get the address for the police station in your neighborhood. You could also mail your letter directly to the Police Commissioner using the following address:

Philadelphia Police Department
One Franklin Square
Philadelphia, PA 19106

By Calling 9-1-1
The Philadelphia Emergency Number can be called to share information you have. In fact, many people choose this option. 9-1-1 operators are highly trained and will ask you for some details concerning the incident or crime you are reporting information about. Again, you don't have to give your name but it would be helpful if we have any questions in the future.

By Calling Your Local Police District
The administrative staff of police districts are comprised of highly trained civilian and police personnel that are ready to take your information over the phone and pass it on to the proper unit.

By Visiting Your Local Police District or Police Headquarters
Every police district and police headquarters has a walk-up window manned by either a police officer or a civilian. Citizens are encouraged to stop by and tell the assigned officer their information. As mentioned previously, you could even just drop off a note if that's your preference. We're interested in the information, not necessarily who is giving it.

Send a Web Tip
For some cases the Police Department sets up a special web page with a dedicated tip form for the public to pass on information. For example, a past multiple homicide inside a private residence prompted the development of a special tip form for soliciting information about that crime.