How to Report Teenage Gang Violence Anonymously
Gang violence plagues many neighborhoods across the country, and not just those in low-income areas. In fact, more and more high-income areas are experiencing gang-related burglary, assault and arson. Gangs cause fear wherever they appear, which is why many concerned citizens choose to report gang violence anonymously.
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Instructions
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Know whether or not you are actually witnessing gang activity before you report a situation. Simply congregating in an area is not illegal and may not get the attention of law-enforcement officials. You'll need to give a detailed description of what you witnessed when you call to report an incident.
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Contact your local police department to report gang violence. You do not need to give your name or address, and your privacy will be respected.
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Ask your sheriff's department for a phone number you can call to anonymously report teenage gang violence; many departments have dedicated hotlines.
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Call your local school to report gang violence during school hours. In addition to notifying the police department, many schools have security and truancy officers on campus who can arrive on scene within minutes.
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Start a neighborhood watch in your area. You can report gang violence to the neighborhood-watch leader, who can then notify the appropriate authorities without mentioning your name.
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Report teenage violence anonymously at the WeTip Web site (see Resources below). You can also call toll-free at (800) 78-CRIME to report violence in your area.
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Follow up with the police if the situation has not been addressed in a reasonable amount of time.
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Tips & Warnings
You have the right to live your life without unreasonable fear. If gangs are terrorizing your neighborhood, report them immediately. The problem won't be fixed until you get the courage to make the call.
Fear of both gang violence and reprisal for reporting it can be mind-numbing. If you are paralyzed with fear over gang violence, contact your local sheriff's department to find out ways you can help clean up the crime in your area.
Never attempt to confront a gang, or even tell gang members to leave the neighborhood. You could be seriously injured or even killed.
