Police Department’s Online Reporting System is Now Live

The Sanford Police Department’s online reporting system is up and running. Residents can use this new tool to report non-emergency crimes and incidents directly from their smart phones or computers.

If the incident is an immediate threat to life, safety or property, do not use the online system, but call 911 instead.

If the incident is NOT an emergency, if it occurred in Sanford/Springvale, and if there are no known suspects, it is appropriate for online reporting.

On the City’s website, sanfordmaine.org, look for the Sanford PD Online Reporting link to begin the process. Click on “Select Incident” to begin. The new page will open in a new window – please make sure to turn off your pop-up blocking software before filing the report. Review the entire list with definitions and examples before selecting your incident. The following incidents can be reported:

• Animal complaints – such as stray cats continually visiting your yard or a dog in the neighborhood intermittently barking throughout the day
• Burglary of a motor vehicle
• Criminal mischief – when a person unknown has broken windows, damaged or sprayed graffiti (damage less than $2,000)
• Identity theft – if an unknown person has used your name, date of birth or social security number to open an account or credit card
• Illegal dumping – with no identifying information in the trash
• Intel/Information – this is for suspicious activity, drug activity or other potential crimes after the fact – Please call 911 about any crimes or suspicious activity in progress. Drug activity may be reported without including your personal information.
• Liquor law violations – including furnishing liquor to a minor and serving a customer who is intoxicated
• Lost property, such as a wallet, purse or cell phone
• Passing a stopped school bus while its red lights are on
• Phone harassment by an unknown caller
• Scams – for example, someone calling claiming to be from the IRS, or asking for money or gift cards
• Theft or shoplifting from your home or business, of items with a value of less than $1,000
• Traffic complaints – such as cars regularly speeding through your neighborhood at a certain time of day
• Trespassing – of people on foot or in a vehicle, if the property is clearly & properly posted

The online reporting system can also be utilized to submit additional information to a previous report. The original case number is required to submit additional information electronically.

After selecting the appropriate incident, scroll down and click/tap “Continue” to get to the next screen. There may be multiple screens to complete depending on the type of incident.

All reports, except drug activity under Intel/Information, must include your name, address, email and other personal information.

Upon completion of the online reporting process you will:

• See the words: “Your online police report has been submitted” showing that your police report is complete.
• Be given a police report case number.
• Be able to purchase a copy of the police report to keep for your records.

Reports go to the administrative Sergeant staffing the shift, who prioritizes them and delegates them to officers in the field. The system will enable officers to spend more time responding to incidents by having all the information available beforehand.

If the incident you want to report is not listed in the category selection list, or if there is a known suspect, please call the Sanford Police Department (emergency 9-1-1; non-emergency 207-324-3644) to file your report.

All cases filed using the Citizens Online Police Reporting System will be reviewed. Upon review, if further investigation of your case is needed, you may be contacted. Please be aware that filing a false police report is a crime.

The City is looking into creating a separate app for the online reporting system, to make it more user-friendly for mobile devices.

Please note that use of the online reporting system is not mandatory. Officers are always happy to speak with you personally, even for minor incidents.

The Sanford Police Department asks for your patience with this new technology as they work through the “growing pains” to make it as functional and user-friendly as possible.

Subscribe to our twice-weekly email newsletter and never miss a story! Visit sanfordspringvalenews.com/subscribe/ to sign up.