Crime happens in all shapes and sizes, every single day. In most cases, the victim is completely unaware that anything is going to happen. We would all like to think that it won’t ever happen to us, but the reality is that we never know what might happen. A lot of the time, the difference between a crime being solved or unsolved relies heavily on the information provided to law enforcement or your security provider. Whether you are the victim or a witness, there is often a missed opportunity to identify key pieces of information. Below are some tips and tricks on what to try to look for, when witnessing or being the victim of a crime.

One of the most important things you can remember about an incident is when it happened. If you are having trouble remembering the time of the incident, look back through your call history. You might be surprised how seeing who you talked to and when might help you better understand the timeline of when the incident occurred.

Another very important thing to remember is color. Skin color, hair color, shoe color, vehicle color…try to take note of as much as possible. During an intense situation, colors may be one of the easiest things to recall.

Lastly, it might seem obvious, but taking note of both the suspect and victim is extremely helpful and often overlooked. Criminals usually do not like to be seen and will try to avoid cameras and open areas. You would be surprised how often knowing the description of the victim has helped locate the activity in question, faster than knowing the description of the suspect.

It is our sincere hope that you are never the victim of a crime. In case you ever are, we hope that these tips will be helpful.

-Brock Elmore
Forensic Review Department Manager