File a Report
What is a police report?
When a potentially criminal incident occurs to you, you have the ability to file a report with the South Bend Police Department. A police report is an official document created by law enforcement officers that outlines the details of a crime, incident, or investigation. It includes information such as the time, location, and description of the event, as well as statements from witnesses, victims, or suspects, and any actions taken by the police. The South Bend Police Department offers three ways to file a report: online, by phone, and in-person at the SBPD Building.
Ways to file a report
By Phone
The South Bend Police Department can take some reports via phone. Dial (574) 235-9201 to be connected to a Records Specialist. You will be given a police report number for your records.
Records specialists can take the following incident reports by phone:
- Larceny, including vehicles
- Vandalism (Except gang graffiti)
- Harassing phone calls
- Found/lost property
- Gas drive offs
- Preliminary reports for Child Protective Services
- Supplemental reports (Additional information for a report already taken)
For some incident types, the Records Specialists will need to send an Officer to the scene. If the incident you call about cannot be reported by phone, the Records Specialist will advise you on the appropriate steps. The following types of calls require an officer to initiate a report:
- Domestic violence
- Assault resulting in serious injuries
- Burglary (including garage break ins)
- Robbery
- Accidents and public accidents
- Rape
- Homicide
- Arson
- Cancellation of runaway. Must bring person to police department to identify
In Person
Records Specialists will be available by phone and in-person during business hours. Open M-F, 7AM to 11PM. SBPD Records is closed on weekends, with the exception of impound releases on Saturdays from 8 a.m. till noon. On holidays, SBPD records can be accessed from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and holidays that fall on a weekend.
The following types of reports can be done at the front desk in person:
- Motor vehicle theft
- Assault not inlvoving serious injuries
- Threat reports
- Fraud
- Missing persons and escapees
- Shoplifting reports
- Report a runaway
- Cancellation of missing person report
Online
The South Bend Police Department now accepts reports online through the Citizens Online Police Reporting Tool! You can use this system to report incidents such as Harassing Phone Call(s), Lost Property, Minor Vehicle Accident, Miscellaneous Reports, Theft, Traffic Complaint, Vandalism, Vehicle Larceny, Vehicle Tampering. Please confirm the following to find out if online citizen police report filing is right for you:
- This is not an emergency.
- This incident occurred within the South Bend Police Department city limits.
- There are no known suspects
- This did not occur on a state freeway.