How do I write a good narrative for a police report submitted to the Chicago Police Department?
A good police report narrative should be clear, concise, and comprehensive. This will help officers, detectives, officials, and insurance to understand exactly what happened and what steps were taken.
Structure
- Date and Time of Loss: Provide the exact or approximate date and time when the passport was last seen and when it was discovered missing.
- Location of Loss: Describe where the passport was last seen and where it might have been lost (e.g., home, office, public place).
- Circumstances: Explain the circumstances under which the passport was lost. Include any specific activities that were being undertaken at the time (e.g., traveling, moving, attending an event).
- Search Efforts: Detail any efforts made to locate the passport before filing the report (e.g., retracing steps, searching the area).
- Witnesses: Mention any witnesses who might have seen the passport last or have relevant information.
- Suspected Theft: If there is any suspicion that the passport might have been stolen, include any relevant details (e.g., suspicious individuals, break-ins).
- Previous Reports: Note if any previous reports were made regarding the lost passport.
Sample narrative
Here is a sample narrative for a police report for a lost passport.
Ms. Smith's passport is a US Passport, number XXXXXXXXX, issued on January 1, 2020, with an expiration date of January 1, 2030.
Ms. Smith last saw her passport on July 1, 2024, at around 2:00 PM at her residence. She discovered it missing on July 5, 2024, at approximately 8:00 AM when she was preparing for an international trip. The passport was stored in a drawer in her home office. Ms. Smith had recently hosted a family gathering on July 4, 2024, but there were no suspicious activities noted. She has thoroughly searched her home and contacted family members who attended the gathering, but the passport remains missing.
There were no witnesses to the loss, and Ms. Smith does not suspect theft at this time. This is the first report made regarding this lost passport.
You can use this as a starting point for a narrative when you need to file your own police report.