To obtain the best possible police response, you should be prepared to efficiently report all crime and suspicious activity to the police. Some situations warrant using the 9-1-1 emergency number while others should be phoned in to the 24 hour non-emergency line. The following guidelines are offered to assist you in determining which number to use:

Call 9-1-1 for:

• All medical emergencies.
• Reporting a fire.
• Reporting a Police emergency such as:
  • Any crime in progress that you are aware of or observing.
  • A crime that has just been committed against you or one that you just witnessed. For example, you have just had your purse snatched and the suspect and/or vehicle description may help the police make an apprehension.

The 9-1-1 number can be dialed from any telephone and will go directly to the Highland Park Police Department's Public Safety Center. The telephone and address from the location you're calling from is automatically displayed on a computer screen when your call is answered. You can also call 9-1-1 from any coin operated telephone without depositing money.

In order for the police to respond quickly to an emergency, let the dispatcher take command of the conversation. He or she will ask you a series of questions to learn exactly what is taking place. Depending on the type of call, the dispatcher will ask:

• What happened?
• Where it happened ?
• Your name, phone number and location.
• Suspect(s) description.
• Weapon, if any.
• Vehicle, if any, and its direction of travel.
• Identifiable features of house or building.
• Pet(s) on premises, if any.
• Injuries, if any.

Speak as clearly and as calmly as you can. In an emergency, another dispatcher broadcasts the information by radio while you're still on the line. Each question that you're asked is designed to add a piece to the "picture" so that arriving officers can take precautions for what may be a dangerous situation. The more complete the picture, the quicker and safer the outcome will be for all concerned.

Reporting a Non-Emergency (847-432-7730)
Most of the calls that you and your neighbors place to the Police Department are for non-emergencies. For example, if you discover that a crime has occurred such as a burglary or theft but you did not witness the incident and don't know when it happened, you should call the non-emergency line, 847-432-7730 (24 hours)

You can assist HPPD in deterring crime by reporting potential criminal activity BEFORE a crime has been committed or completed. Following are examples of suspicious activity that you should report to the police:

Suspicious Persons

• Going door-to-door in a residential area. Burglars often case an area by simply knocking on doors to see if anyone is home. If a stranger knocks on your door, take the time to check them. If you don't, you may unwittingly be sending a burglar on to continue their search.

• Non-residents entering a yard. Be wary of strangers you see entering a neighbor's property. Try calling your neighbor and then call the police if you're still unsure.

• Waiting in front of a house. If you see a stranger loitering near a home you know is unoccupied, they may be acting as a lookout for a burglary.

• Forcing entrance to a home or vehicle. Some burglars are so brazen that a casual observer may assume that someone has simply locked themselves out. Be alert!

Suspicious Vehicles

• Slow moving vehicles. Burglars sometimes look for their target by driving aimlessly about, passing by repeatedly.
• Parked, occupied vehicles. Burglars also will park their car and strike the home of someone they see leaving.
• Vans and trucks. Be wary of a large vehicle you've never seen before parked next to a home or in a driveway. Verify that it belongs there.

Remember, trust your instincts. If you observe something that just doesn't seem right, follow through. Don't say to yourself, "It's probably nothing and besides, the police are probably too busy to check it out". Actually, police officers would much rather respond to your call and have it result in a false alarm than to miss an opportunity to prevent a crime or apprehend a criminal.

Blank suspect description sheets are available to keep near your phone. Fill out one of these forms to obtain an accurate description whenever you witness suspicious or criminal activity. Call the Highland Park Police Department Community Relations Unit at 847-926-1123 for further information.