Safety Information > How to Report Crime
How to Report Crime
We hope you never need to report a crime, but if you are the victim of or witness to a crime or criminal incident, or are aware of a potential threat on campus, you have the responsibility to report it immediately to the police.
If it is an Emergency,
what number do I call?
When you witness imminent threat to life or property, notify UCPD by making an emergency call. You have three options to reach the UCPD dispatch center:
- Use a Blue Light Phone
- Dial 9-1-1 from ANY landline phone
- Dial 510 642-3333 from a cell phone on or near campus
Safety hint: give it a quick dial key on your cell
Read NOTE about dialing 9-1-1 from a cell phone
Why should I report a crime?
There are many reasons to report a crime. Reporting crime helps law enforcement agencies...- ...find and arrest a suspect in a crime.
This reduces the liklihood that others will be victimized. - ...track criminal activity and identify trends in various areas
Statistical information is a powerful tool to prevent future crimes. - ...recover stolen property.
Chances of recovery increase when serial numbers are entered into statewide databases and you are named as owner of the stolen items.
Emergency or Not? Two Kinds of Reporting
A typical emergency call to 9-1-1 is to report a crime in progress and request emergency assistance. You may also want to report a crime that is no longer in progress, or a series of crimes you have observed.
Read more to learn how to report a crime that is...
- In Progress (EMERGENCY)
- Not In Progress (NON-EMERGENCY)
In progress
Crimes-in-progress or any crimes involving life threatening circumstances receive the highest priority response. 9-1-1 is the number dedicated to handling these emergencies. If the crime is still in progress, do what you can to ensure your own safety first. If you are outside your home, get to a public area - an open store, a restaurant or hotel. If at home, go to a safe area of the house, or go outside.
NOTE about cell phones and "9‑1‑1"
9‑1‑1 is definitely the number to dial in an EMERGENCY in the United States, but it works a little differently with a cell phone. For instance, a 9‑1‑1 call made from a cell phone on or near the UC Berkeley campus will go first to California State Highway Patrol (CHP). After you state your location to the CHP dispatcher, your call will be directed to UCPD or BPD as appropriate.
You can save that step if you note the direct number(s) to dial from a cell phone.
If you live and work in different areas, it is worth noting or programming into your phone all of the direct numbers which will connect directly to your local law enforcemment agency or agencies.
An EMERGENCY (9-1-1) call from a cell phone, on or near the UC Berkeley campus, is made by dialing (510) 642-3333.
In the City of Berkeley, an EMERGENCY (9‑1‑1) call from a cell phone to the Berkeley Police Department, is made by dialing (510) 981-5911.
Remember, while dialing the digits "9‑1‑1" from a cell phone might add a few seconds to your emergency call, it will get you the help you need.
Briefly, the steps to reporting a crime in progress are these:
- Get to a safe place to call
- Quickly and clearly tell
- WHERE you are
- WHERE the crime happened
- WHEN the crime happened
Is it still happening? - WHAT happened
- Do not hang up!
The dispatcher will want to keep you on the line until help arrives.
Not in progress
If you were a victim of a crime, witnessed a crime, or are aware of the occurrence of crime that is no longer in progress, we encourage you to contact the police and tell them you'd like to file a police report.Best ways to make your non-emergency report
- Call UCPD at 510 642-6760 (or 2-6760 from a campus landline).
This line is the non-emergency number, but it is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also dial this number if you have a general question or concern. - Visit the police department
During business hours an investigator can help you create a thorough report with the most accurate information possible to help us conduct a thorough investigation. Some information which may seem irrelevant might actually be critical from a law enforcement standpoint. - Use CalTip
If you would like to report anonymously, you can submit a brief description to us using the web form email, CalTip. - Contact another campus security authority. To report a Hate Crime, for instance, you can report anonymously at http://stophate.berkeley.edu
Where should I file my report?
A police report should be filed in the city or jurisdiction where the crime occurred. If the crime occurred on campus or on University owned property, report it to us. We will handle the report, all investigation and follow-up. If the crime occurred off campus, It should be reported to to the local jurisdiction.
Emergency “Blue Light” Telephones
Emergency telephones can be identified by a blue light. Freestanding phone systems, in tall dark columns or yellow phone boxes, are topped with a blue light which remains lit at all times. The campus has installed telephone units on the main campus, outlying parking areas, and other off-campus locations. Most elevators are equipped with emergency telephones on the wall of the elevator cab.
How do they work?
Pushing the red button on the panel will automatically connect to the UC Police Department call center. The dispatcher will see the location of the caller. A strobe light is activated when the emergency button is pushed and ceases when the call ends. Some units are under video survelliance.
Where are they?
Emergency phones are installed throughout the campus. See the UCPD Campus Map (available in print at the station or at police.berkeley.edu/nightmap/) for locations.
The emergency phone installations and their maintenance are a joint effort of UCPD and Campus Network Services.
Related Links
- CalTip, anonymous crime report tool
- Reporting a Hate Crime
- UCPD Jurisdiction
- Clery-Reportable Crime Definitions
- UCR Crime Definitions
- UCPD Systemwide Annual Report
- "Safety Counts"
UC Berkeley's Clery-compliant Annual Security Report - UCPD Contact Information
(including contact info for other local law enforcement agencies) - List of other campus security authorities
- FCC page about 911
- Other means of reporting, Center for Student Conduct and Community Standards
In an EMERGENCY, from a cell phone on or near campus, dial 510 642-3333 If you have any questions, please contact UCPD:
Email the police
Visit us at 1 Sproul Hall (basement), near Telegraph Avenue & Bancroft Way
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Station Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Mail us at University of California Police Department, Berkeley, Records Unit
1 Sproul Hall, MC #1199, Berkeley, CA 94720-1199
Phone: 510 642-6760, 24 hours a day
Fax: 510 643-4655
