Crime & Safety

Livermore Police Offers Tips on How to Be the 'Best Witness'

In the heat of the moment, things move fast. Livermore PD offers a few key things to keep in mind when calling in a crime in progress.

From drunk drivers to daytime burglaries, many times neighbors see something taking place and pick up the phone to call Livermore Police.

But what should they tell police once someone picks up?

Livermore Police Spokeswoman Traci Rebiejo said that police rely on residents' accounts in order to catch criminals, but there are a few things that residents should always remember when making that call.

First, program this number: 925-371-4987

"This number is good for any emergency or nonemergency in Livermore," Rebiejo said. "That goes straight to our dispatch. Because you don’t have to go through any phone tree, you get a quicker response."

Keep a safe distance between you and the suspect.
"If you don’t feel comfortable following them, don’t," Rebiejo said.

Know the direction they were heading.

This may sound obvious but something more than "Left" or "Right" allows police to know exactly where to go.

"Know your compass," Rebiejo said. "Give us landmarks, like 'He was going toward Tracy' is to the East,' or 'Mt. Diablo' to the North. That’s really helpful for us."

Know what streets they’re on.

"It’s wonderful to know this because we get a lot of drunk drivers off the road this way," Rebiejo said. "People will follow them and then call that in. Thursday's burglary isn’t any different except that this guy was on foot."


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