Crime Prevention is not just for police, but a cooperative effort by the community and the police force. Citizens need to be aware of their community and will know their neighborhood better than any police officer could.
Trying to determine whether or not to call 911 or the regular phone line needs to be determined next. 911 is for emergencies only. If immediate response is necessary then utilizing 911 is the appropriate choice. If damage has been done to property and occurred sometime in the evening then calling the regular phone line would be appropriate.
Being vigilant in contacting the police department when suspicious activity is occurring will help in curbing crime in your area. Reporting suspicious activity to a dispatcher is very important. It is important to give as much information and detail as possible. Detailed information on the suspect, vehicle information, direction of travel, and information on contacting you is very important. Asking the dispatcher not to disseminate your information over the radio is OK as long as an officer has the ability to call dispatch and get information to follow up on a call. Most information that is given by the caller is put over the radio to advise officers who or what they are looking for while responding to the call. If a person or vehicle is leaving the area and officers are given information on a direction of travel they are going to be more proactive and looking for the suspect and/or vehicle leaving the area.