How to Report a Crime in Progress

A recent alleged sexual assault by four teenage boys on a 15-year-old girl in California garnered national attention - but not for the reason you may think. While the rape was terrible on its own, the real horror was that some 15 other teens allegedly stood by watching the incident unfold without stepping in to help the girl. To make matters even worse, the crime was never reported by anyone in attendance and was only discovered after someone overheard some of the teens discussing it.

This isn't the first time a heinous crime was committed in front of onlookers who failed to act. In 2006, in Kingstown, on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, Sean Samuel was found guilty of assaulting and beheading his relative, Stacy Wilson, in front of a crowd of onlookers who did nothing to stop the murder.

Psychology experts have named this type of inability to act during a crime the "bystander effect". In essence, the theory is that the higher the number of people who witness a crime together, the less any one individual is likely to act to stop it or report it. A classic study conducted by Bibb Latane and John Darley found that the amount of time it takes someone to act in an emergency varies depending on how many people are in the room. The fewer people, the higher the chance that someone will act.

Another example of the bystander effect - and perhaps the most famous -occurred in New York City on March 13, 1964, when Catherine "Kitty" Genovese was stabbed to death as she returned home from work at 3:20 a.m. Thirty-eight people watched from their apartments as the murder took place. Despite Ms. Genovese's cries for help it took 30 minutes for someone to call the police, by which time she already was dead.

As we venture into an uncertain future with rising violence and increased potential for terrorist activity, it's more important than ever for the average person to step up and do his or her part to keep our communities safe. Knowing how to report a crime in progress - and doing so when necessary - can help police perform their job more effectively, thus keeping your neighborhood safer and, quite possibly, saving someone's life.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Dial 911. Regardless of where you are in the United States, simply calling 911 will put you in touch with a local dispatch center. And with E911 (Enhanced 911) capabilities in most major cities now available, simply dialing the number will provide dispatchers with your immediate location and phone number. Try to stay as calm as possible when on the line with a dispatcher. The calmer you are, the quicker they can process the information and send the help that's needed.

2. Tell the dispatcher exactly what the problem is and where it is taking place.

3. Tell the dispatcher whether or not the incident is still taking place and how many people are involved.

4. Provide as accurate as possible descriptions of the people involved and whether or not the crime is involving weapons of any kind.

5. If vehicles are involved, provide as accurate details as possible, including the color, make, model, license plate and year.

6. If the crime is over by the time you speak with a dispatcher, report what happened and in what direction the individual or individuals fled.

7. Provide your name, address and phone number so you can be reached for additional assistance if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact your local police department and ask for their crime tip line or alternate emergency seven-digit telephone number. These numbers are available for reporting a crime that's not currently in progress.
• Failure to act when witnessing a crime can result in you being convicted of being an accessory to the crime.

Resources

• Stacy Wilson Story
• The Bystander Effect
• California Teen Rape Story
• U.S. Dept. of Justice Crime Reporting Center
• Kitty Genovese Story

[Magentaslb]

on 11/2/2009 Frightening stuff! Hope I never have to use this info! 5*s

[Diablo2]

on 11/2/2009 Vital information all of us could use...thanks!

[jaicard]

on 11/2/2009 Compelling article on a subject that most of us hope we will never face - watching a crime in progress. Thank you for addressing this and giving us a reason to think about it before we may be faced with such a situation!

[consultmedley]

on 11/2/2009 I found your article interesting. After reading it I sat here thinking if I had been in the crowd would I be able to move? It makes you think...

[tundranut]

on 11/2/2009 How to Report a Crime in Progress is a fascinating look at the Bystander Effect. Thank you for helping people become more aware, and then hopefully more capable of acting in an emergency. 5*