Contact:
Kristin Banfield, Communications Manager / City Clerk
(360) 403-3444
kbanfield@arlingtonwa.gov
The Arlington Police Department is joining several other law enforcement agencies in the Puget Sound region by offering a new online crime reporting tool.
The tool allows victims of certain crimes to report the crime online with a minimal amount of typing and mouse clicks. The new online crime reporting site, www.mycrimereport.us, was launched as a community resource through a collaborative effort Snohomish County 911, Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, and the City of Everett.
The online crime reporting tool, which can also be accessed via mobile device, may be especially useful for victims who need a police report number for insurance purposes, but either cannot or do not want to wait for an officer to respond.
The online crime report tool can reduce the need for law enforcement to follow-up on every call in person, meaning officers can spend more time on proactive patrol. Crime victims can still request an in-person follow-up.
While the online tool is valuable for reporting minor crimes, there are some reports that must be made by calling 911. Types of crimes that cannot be reported online include felonies, crimes where the suspect is known, where the address of the incident is unknown and or where the value of something stolen or damaged exceeds $5,000.
The minimum requirements for filing a report online are that the reporting party has an e-mail address and that they know the location where the incident occurred.
Examples of crimes that can be reported online include:
- Vandalism - Graffiti on a fence to a home or business.
- Theft - A stolen cell phone.
- Theft - A bike stolen from school.
- Vehicle damage, prowl - A "smash and grab" of a GPS device from a vehicle.
The online tool will generate a police report number and will send that number to the victim's e-mail, typically within 72 business hours. All reports are reviewed by law enforcement personnel. Anyone with questions about a crime and how to report it should still call 911.
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