Write an article based on this "Check if your police station allows telephone reports. Call the police dispatch office. Provide your name and location. Describe the incident you want to report. Meet with an officer if necessary. Request a copy of the report."
Many police stations do not allow telephone reports, as this is a security issue. Since filing a false report is a crime, they need to have the filer sign a document and verify that they are who they say they are. Police departments have a non-emergency number that you can call if you want to file a police report over the phone. Do not call 911 unless there is an active crime in progress or people's lives are endangered. You typically can find the non-emergency number through an online search, in a telephone book, or by calling 311 (information), if that service is available in your area. Identify yourself to the dispatcher who answers the non-emergency number and let them know that you want to file a police report. They will ask for your name and address, as well as the address of your current location if it differs from your place of residence. You may be able to file a report anonymously over the phone. However, if you don't provide your name and contact information, police will not be able to follow up with you about the report. You should always provide your name and contact information if you suffered a loss as a result of the incident you're reporting, such as if your property was damaged. Let the dispatcher know what happened, and when and where the incident occurred. Provide as many factual details as you can remember. Remain calm and stick to the facts. If you have any photo or video, or documents related to the incident, let the dispatcher know. They will tell you what you need to do with them. The dispatcher may ask you some questions if there is specific information they need that you failed to mention in your description. Once the dispatcher takes your report, they'll determine if the situation necessitates sending an officer to your location to talk to you further. This may happen if, for example, you're reporting damage to your property. If an officer is dispatched, the dispatcher will give you a time frame of when to expect them. The officer will confirm the information in your telephone report and ask questions to get any additional information they may need to further investigate your report. You may not get a written copy of the report immediately. The officer typically will give you a receipt with the number assigned to your report so you can get a full copy later. If an officer isn't dispatched to your location to talk to you, ask the dispatcher for a report number. Find out when the full written report will be available and how you can get a copy for your records. In some cases, the police department may mail a copy of the report to you. Otherwise, you may need to make a trip to the precinct to pick up your copy.