FAQs

F.A.Q.

Fresno Police Department Frequently Asked Questions How do I deal with a suspicious person?How do I deal with a theft?How do I deal with an animal that has been hurt or endangered?How can I reduce the chances of being a victim of vehicle burglary?What are the new laws governing driving while using my cell phone?

How do I deal with a suspicious person?

1. Keep your distance. Contacting a suspicious person may jeopardize your safety.
2. Be a good witness. Take note of hair color, facial hair, height and weight. Remember, clothing can easily be changed - often criminals will wear multiple layers of clothing so they can escape easily.
3. Get vehicle descriptions and license plates if you can. Do not jeopardize your safety to do so.
4. If it appears the subject is about to commit a crime, make it known to them that the y are being watched. Do not approach the subject.
5. If someone comes to your door that you are not expecting or do not know, do not open the door. Make contact through the door. Have them provide you with their I.D. and tell them that they will have to make an appointment to see you. Do not avoid answering the door. Often times criminals will knock on a door to see if someone is home before they break into a residence. Most thieves do not want to encounter a person while they are committing their crimes. These people will usually ask for someone and then say they have the wrong address when you answer.
6. Know your neighbors. Have their phone numbers available. If you see someone suspicious, call your neighbors so they are aware of the subject.
7. If you believe that the person is involved in criminal activity, call the police. Be prepared to give your address and the location where the suspect is standing. If you do not know the address, describe the location and where it is in relation to your address. For example "It's the blue house two houses south from my house."
8. If you are not at home when you see a suspicious person, keep your distance. This is especially true if you are on foot or alone at a location.
9. Call the police and describe what you saw. Do this from a safe location.
10. If it appears the subject is committing a crime, make noise to get other people's attention. Honk your horn or yell. This will usually cause the person to run away.
Back to top

How do I deal with a theft?

Unfortunately, theft has affected almost everyone at one time or another. Each incident serves as a reminder that we need to make changes to prevent further incidents in the future. Most thefts are opportunistic in nature, and by making it a little more difficult for the theft to take place, like putting a bike lock on a bike when it is not in use, we can dramatically reduce thefts. There is also a common theme with a lot of victims of theft: the victims have no way of identifying their property. Very few people who call the police have the serial numbers or identification markings to the property that was taken. This often means the victim never regains possession of the property, and the suspect never has to answer for the theft. The good news is this problem is easily changed. Start by writing down all the serial numbers and identification markings. Place the list in a safe place or two - maybe a list at home, and e-mail yourself at work. Then began locking or putting away items that are easily visible and accessible, which will reduce the number of thefts. If you are a victim, you will have the proper serial numbers or identification markings to give the police. This allows officers to enter the serial and identification numbers into the National Automated Property System. If anyone is caught with the property it can be identified as being stolen and the culprit can be arrested. With the public’s help we can reduce thefts, recover more stolen property, and arrest more thieves. To report a theft, a person may call 621-7000, or go to Fresno.gov to complete an online report if there is no information on suspects and the loss is less than $400.
Back to top

How do I deal with an animal that has been hurt or endangered?

1. All animals will attack or run when they feel threatened.
2. If you see a loose dog or other animal, contact the owner if you know who they are. If you don’t know who owns the animal contact the Central California S.P.C.A at (559) 233-SPCA. They are trained to catch loose animals.
3. Keep children inside. Wait for someone to catch the animal before going outside.
4. Do not pick up or touch injured animals. A bite from an animal may necessitate medical treatment for the injury and rabies. This is especially true if the animal runs away before it can be caught and tested.
5. If you know the animal and it is familiar with you, try to contain it to a fenced yard. Avoid pulling on the animal. If you injure it, it may bite you.
6. If you encounter a large animal such as a cow or horse, try not to spook the animal. Warn traffic of the loose animal if possible and contact the Fresno Police Department.
Back to top

How can I reduce the chances of being a victim of vehicle burglary?

1. Do not leave valuables inside your vehicle.
2. Park in a well-lit area.
3. Get an alarm with a flashing LED light and shock sensor. The light lets people know you have an alarm. Shock sensors are designed to go off when the window is broken. It is very common for thieves to break a window to remove property and never set off the car alarm.
4. Park on well-traveled paths. Avoid parking in alleys or small dark streets. Most parking lots have major roads near them; this allows your vehicle to be seen by people passing by.
5. Park inside your garage. If this is not possible, get motion lights for your driveway.
6. Do not leave garage door openers in vehicles left outside. This could facilitate intruders getting into your house.
7. If you have expensive stereo equipment, keep it out of sight. Get a removable stereo or removable faceplate.
8. Be cautious about leaving items in a vehicle trunk. Most trunks can be accessed from within the vehicle.
Back to top

What are the new laws governing driving while using my cell phone?

For all Frequently Asked Questions, and the answers, regarding driving while using your cell phone, Click Here