Can I file a Chicago Police Report online?

Imagine returning to your car parked on a busy Chicago street, only to find your window shattered and valuables missing. Or perhaps you've noticed unauthorized charges on your credit card statement. In situations like these, filing a police report promptly is crucial. The good news is, the Chicago Police Department has made it easier than ever to report certain types of crimes online. This guide will walk you through the process and provide valuable information on the kinds of crimes you can report online.

Why File a Police Report Online?

Filing a police report online is convenient and can save you time. You can report a crime from the comfort of your home or office, without having to visit a police station. Moreover, it helps law enforcement agencies to track and investigate crimes more efficiently. According to the Chicago Police Department, online reporting has helped reduce response times and improved community safety.

How to File a Chicago Police Report Online

Filing a police report online is a straightforward process. Here's how you can do it:

1. Visit the Chicago Police Department's Online Crime Reporting Website: Navigate to Chicago Police Department's Online Crime Reporting website to start the process.
2. Choose the Type of Crime: Once on the website, select the type of crime you want to report from the list provided. The different kinds of crimes you can report online are listed below.
3. Provide Details: Fill out the online form with all the necessary details about the incident, including date, time, location, and any additional information that might be helpful for the investigation.
4. Review and Submit: Double-check all the information you've provided, then submit your report. You'll receive a confirmation number that you can use for future reference.

Once you have submitted the form, you will receive an email with the tracking number. The department will then review your report, and contact you in case there are any problems. Once your report is approved, it will be issued a case number and you will receive a PDF copy as an attachment in your email within approximately five business days.

Your report, once approved, will be sent to you by email in PDF form. It will contain a Report Number (also called an R.D. number). You will use this number whenever you are communicating with the Chicago Police Department regarding this incident.

Often, the PDF of the report is sufficient for reporting purposes. However, if you need to order the full paper copy from the City of Chicago, you can do so doing one of a few ways:

• Mailing Your Request: While it seems convenient, mailing a request involves paperwork, postage, and attention to detail. You need to set it up correctly, write a letter, have postage and envelopes at the ready, and send them out correctly.
• Visiting the Headquarters: You can also choose to visit Records division at Central Police Headquarters, 3510 S. Michigan, 1st Floor, Room 1043, and order your police report in person. However, CPD has limited hours and no free parking. You'll have to take time off of work, pay for parking, find the right entrance, wait in multiple lines, and only then will you get your police report. For those that need the report right away, though, this is the only way to get it quickly.
• A Simpler Solution: Here's where ChicagoPoliceReport.com comes into play. We make it easy to order your police report from your phone or laptop. Simply fill out the right information, and we will create and send the order for you. No stamps, no envelopes, no uncertainty, no visits to CPD headquarters. We won't see your report either, as it will be mailed directly to you.

Incident types that you can report online

Here is a list of incident types that you can report online through the method above:

Incident Type	Definition	Examples
Confidence Game	An unknown person engages you in a ruse to gain money from you.	Unknown person calls you to say your relative is in jail and needs bond money which you should send via electronically; I won the lotto but can't collect so if you give me money I will give you the winning ticket which is for a much larger amount; pigeon drop (you give up a sum of money in order to get a larger sum of money), 3 card monte (you bet money to pick the correct card from a group of three cards), someone offers to sell you concert or play tickets that turn out to fraudulent.
Credit Card Fraud	Someone other than yourself used your credit/debit account to purchase goods or services without your permission.	Unknown person made fraudulent purchases with your credit/debit card without permission (includes online or phone purchase).
Criminal Damage to Property	When an unknown person changes, modifies or destroys public or private property.	Incidents include throwing rocks through a window, knocking over a mailbox.
Criminal Damage to Vehicle	When an unknown person tampers with or damages your motor vehicle. If your property is stolen from inside your car after it was damaged, you should make a theft report.	Incidents include keying the vehicle, broken windows or attempts to remove parts of the vehicle.
Criminal Defacement (graffiti)	When an unknown person marks personal or private property with graffiti with spray paint, etching tool or other writing instrument.	Incidents include graffiti to your home or garage, etching on your windows, permanent marker on your flower pot.
Criminal Trespass to Vehicle	The entering of an individual's vehicle by an offender where no other crime has been committed.	Vehicle is found not in the manner left by the owner and it is clear someone was in the vehicle.
Financial Identity Theft (Over $300)	When an unknown person uses any personal identifying information/documents to obtain credit, money, goods, services or other property.	Incidents include using your credit card number to make purchases, opening/obtaining utility service, obtaining a credit card in your name and making purchases, etc.
Financial Identity Theft - $300 and Under	When an unknown person uses any personal identifying information/documents to obtain credit, money, goods, services or other property.	Incidents include using your credit card number to make purchases, opening/obtaining utility service, obtaining a credit card in your name and making purchases, etc.
Illegal Use of Cash Card	An unknown person uses your cash card in an ATM.	You lost your wallet and you had your PIN on your debit card and someone took money from your account via the ATM.
Lost Passport	The loss of an individual's passport, whether US or foreign.
Lost Property	When property is missing or lost.	Property that is missing, leaving items in restaurant, or missing from home.
Other Offense - Harassment by Electronic Means	An unknown person contacts you repeatedly or bullies you by email, social media, etc.	An individual you do not know sends you harassing messages on Facebook or an unknown person sends you multiple unwanted emails.
Other Offense - Harassment by Telephone	An unknown person or entity repeatedly contacts your telephone number within a short period of time.	An individual calls you asking for someone who is not you and they keep calling back; an individual sends you repeated text messages.
Other Offense - Telephone Threats	An unknown person contacts you via the telephone and makes a threat to harm you.	An individual calls you on the telephone and states they are going to beat you up.
Retail Theft	When an unknown person steals inventory from a licensed business.	Any items stolen from the business.
Simple Assault	When an unknown person acts in such a manner that places you in reasonable apprehension of being harmed. The unknown person cannot have physically touched you or displayed a weapon.	Incidents include a stranger on the street threatening you while lunging at you, a stranger saying they are going to hurt you if you don't do a certain act.
Theft - $500 and Under	When an unknown person takes your property without permission.	Any items that are stolen (except firearms). Incidents include failure to pay a cab fare or someone breaking into your vehicle and stealing your property.
Theft - Over $500	When an unknown person takes your property without permission.	Any items that are stolen (except firearms). Incidents include failure to pay a cab fare or someone breaking into your vehicle and stealing your property.
Theft - Pocket Picking	The theft of articles from a person by stealth where the victim usually does not become immediately aware of the theft.	Theft of belongings in an individual's purse or wallet while the purse/wallet is on their person. If the victim is man-handled or force is used, this is a robbery and cannot be reported on-line.
Theft - Purse Snatching	The grabbing or snatching of a purse, handbag, etc., from the custody of an individual.	Theft of a purse being carried by the individual. If the victim is man-handled or force is used, this is a robbery and cannot be reported on-line.
Theft from Building	A theft from within a building that is open to the general public and where the offender has legal access.	Theft of a purse or personal items (i.e. cell phone, tablet left on a table) from a restaurant, bar or store; theft of a person's clothes from a Laundromat.
Theft Of Labor Or Services	The failure to pay for services rendered.	The failure to pay cab fare, avoiding payment of the CTA fare (entering rear of door of bus, jumping turnstile), using slugs in pay phones, tampering with utility service by disrupting the supply or removing devices for this purpose.