The Elk Grove Police Department's number for reporting non-emergencies and to receive general information is: (916) 714-5115. Please be advised that dispatchers answer calls on a priority basis. 9-1-1 and emergency calls are answered first. If your non-emergency calls just ring, don't hang up, your non-emergency call may be answered by a call sequencer. Dispatchers will answer your call when they finish with the emergency calls.

Crimes that fall into this category are:

• Crimes that are not in progress
• There is no possibility the suspect is still on the scene or likely to return to the scene
• Ones for which an immediate response is not needed (non-life-threatening)

Some examples of non-emergency situations are:

• Home or business burglaries in which the suspect has fled more than 15 minutes ago
• Open or broken doors or windows in closed businesses or homes where it is know the resident is gone
• Stolen checks or credit cards. Call your financial institutions to have them stop payments of checks and verification of credit card charges
• Identity theft, impersonation or fraud (unless in progress)
• Auto theft and vandalism
• Hit and run accidents with no injuries
• Minors violating curfew
• Loud parties
• Road hazards that do not require immediate attention
• Graffiti
• Past incidents of child or elder abuse
• Runaway juveniles or missing adults who are not in need of medications, have Alzheimer's or other mental disorder or are suicidal
• Car or building alarms
• Underage drinking (unless they are driving)
• Disturbing the peace
• Loitering near a business or home
• Loitering near schools or parks after hours
• Looking into parked cars
• Entering and leaving property on a daily or regular basis or in large numbers, especially at night
• Drunk in public but not in any immediate danger
• Exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms but not a danger to themselves or others
• Going door-to-door or into side or back yards in residential areas

The Elk Grove Police Department's response time to non-emergency call will depend on the seriousness (or priority) of the situation, the likelihood of making an arrest at the scene and the availability of an officer. Response times are the longest for so-called "cold crimes" like home burglaries where the suspect has fled, no suspect information exists and the victim is in no further danger.

The ability of police to locate and arrest criminals often depends on the thoroughness and accuracy of the information submitted. When reporting both emergencies and non-emergencies, expect to be asked for the following information:

• Type of crime: who's doing what to whom?
• Location: where is this happening or did happen?
• Time of occurrence: is this happening now or is it over?
• Weapons used
• Number of people hurt and types of injuries
• Vehicles used: type, license plate, color, year, model, make, number of people in car, anything unusual (dents, stickers), which way did they go?
• Suspect information: race, gender, age, height, weight, hair color, hair length and style, facial hair, clothing type and color, other identifying characteristics (tattoos, scars, missing teeth, glasses) and which way did they go?