Reporting Suspicious Activity

Prevention is everyone's responsibility.
We are one neighborhood, one state, one nation;
and it is the responsibility of all to remain vigilant
and to report suspicious behavior.
One call can make a difference.

Reporting Suspicious Activity

Police Emergency Number - 919-556-9111 or 911

If you suspect that the suspicious behavior that you detected is actually a crime-in-progress, please call the police emergency number. Remain calm. Avoid taking any risks. Your safety is most important. Keep away from the crime scene to preserve evidence.

Information that the police telecommunicator needs include:

  • What is the person's last known location and direction of travel?

  • What made the person's actions suspicious?

  • Did the person say anything? If so, what?

  • Did the person appear intoxicated?

  • Were any weapons displayed or was there threat of a weapon?

Also, be prepared to give information about the person including:

  • Race

  • Sex

  • Age

  • Height

  • Weight

  • Complexion

  • Eye and hair color

  • Facial hair

  • Scars

  • Tattoos

Finally, if the suspicious person is in a vehicle, please provide the vehicle make, model, color, and license plate number if you can, along with any other identifiable aspects.


Police Non-Emergency Number - 919-554-6150
If the incident does not appear to be a crime-in-progress, you may call the police non-emergency number and report the information. Just as with the crime-in-progress situation, please be prepared to give as much information as possible about the person, vehicle, or situation.


Police TIP Line - 919-435-9610
The TIP line is an unmonitored telephone line that allows the caller to leave a recorded message. Since the TIPS line is unmonitored, it should not be used to report crimes-in-progress. When leaving a message, the caller should be prepared to give as much information as possible about the person, vehicle, or situation. All calls are confidential, so the caller does not have to leave his or her name.


Suspicious Activity - Trust Your Instincts
One of the most important roles you have as a member of our community is to report suspicious activity.


How do you determine what is suspicious activity?
A suspicious activity is when a person's conduct or action does not fit the normal day-to-day activity of our neighborhood- an occurrence that is out of place and should not be happening in our neighborhood.

REMEMBER - If you observe something unusual or think something looks wrong, follow your instinct and report it. You WILL NOT get in trouble with the police - and you WILL be doing a service to your community!

Consider the following activities as suspicious and call the police:

  • A person or vehicle stays in the same place for an unusual length of time.

  • A parked car with the engine running- regardless of a person inside or not.

  • A person behaves strangely or exhibits unusual movements, looks out of place, or is wandering aimlessly.

  • A person concealing an object, carrying a weapon or suspicious bag.

  • A person looking into cars, moving from car to car, and/or tries door handles.

  • A person looking into windows of homes, or forcibly entering a car or home.

  • A person running from a home for no apparent reason, especially at night.

  • A person carrying/transporting unusual/valuable objects, day or night.

  • A person sells/conducts business out of their car, van, truck, or other vehicle.

  • A vehicle drives around your block frequently, slowing down, speeding up.

  • A vehicle without lights on, arriving or leaving at night.

  • A person you don't know offering candy or gifts to children.

  • A person leaving a neighbor's house who isn't the neighbor or someone you recognize or uniformed.

Many activities can be considered suspicious. And, there could be reasonable explanations for some suspicious activities. By thinking things through, being observant and using common sense, you will be able to make a good judgment about whether an activity is suspicious. Your role as a concerned citizen is to report whatever you think is wrong or suspicious.


Remember!
If it's suspicious to you, then it's suspicious to the police. It's better to be safe than sorry.

In your neighborhood, the police don't always know what is suspicious and what is not. So, it's up to you to let the Wake Forest Police Department know when you see suspicious activity!

Remember - you are our best defense against crime. One call can make a difference!