Phoenix's online crime reporting system adds two categories

PHOENIX – Citizens who wish to report crimes involving business theft or graffiti can now do so through the Phoenix Police Department's online reporting system.

On Friday, the department added those two categories to an online system that has been in place since 2013.

The system is designed to report certain types of low-priority crimes while saving time for the community and police.

Graffiti and business theft (including shoplifting where a suspect was arrested) joined the following crimes on the list of incidents recorded in the online reporting system:

• Theft from a vehicle
• Criminal damage
• Fraudulent use of a credit or debit card
• Lost property
• Identity theft
• theft
• Bicycle stolen
• Harassing or harassing phone calls
• Theft from vending machines

The system can also be used to supplement an existing online report.

How to use the Phoenix Police Department's online reporting system

A video on the system's website provides detailed instructions for reporting a crime committed within Phoenix city limits.

If there is an emergency or the crime is in progress, the reporting party should call 911 immediately.

The online reporting process begins with a questionnaire to determine whether the crime meets all of the system's criteria.

The online reporting system also provides users with links to resources such as victim rights brochures in English and Spanish.

How else can crime victims in Phoenix contact police online?

The reporting system isn't the only way Phoenix police are using technology to connect with crime victims.

In August, the department launched a tool that provides victims with real-time updates on their cases.

SPIDR Tech, a public safety services company, developed this tool that works with the city's computer systems.

Crime victims in Phoenix can register online to receive case status updates, including notifications when a suspect has been arrested.

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