Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I register kudos or complaints about the Coquitlam RCMP?
- How do I apply for permits & licenses?
- How do I pay fees & fines?
- How do I access Coquitlam RCMP locations & services?
- How do I get fingerprinted, request a police information check or apply for a record suspension?
- How do I deal with unwanted firearms?
- How do I deal with wildlife-related public safety issues?
- How do I get help with civil law issues?
- How do I access Coquitlam RCMP volunteer & job opportunities?
- How do I deal with lost, found, stolen or seized property?
How do I spot & report criminal or suspicious activity?
How do I report criminal or suspicious activity to the Coquitlam RCMP?
Learn about your options for reporting criminal or suspicious activity to Coquitlam RCMP.
Why is it so important to report criminal and suspicious activity?
As an intelligence-led agency, we require top quality information about what is going in on in our service area. Our call-takers and front counter staff are trained to ask specific questions when filling out police reports to ensure that our crime analyst and investigators are working from the best and most complete information possible.
As part of the Coquitlam RCMP crime reduction strategy (CRS), we collect and analyze information about the three tenets of crime: prolific offenders, crime hotspots and root crime causation. The key is to find links between the three tenets so that our investigators can get more effective at targeting the people, places and issues that combine to cause the most crime and disorder in our service area.
Statistics since CRS started clearly show that the approach works. In order for it to keep working, we need to hear from citizens about what is going on in their neighbourhoods. Whether it is suspicious activity, suspicious individuals, minor crimes or major incidents you should always follow the first rule of public safety: if you SEE something, SAY something.
Can I report crime online or via email?
No. The Coquitlam RCMP only take reports in person or over the phone. However, there are online options for reporting some types of criminal and suspicious activity.
- Submit an anonymous online tip to Crime Stoppers.
- Report economic crime online through RECOL.ca
- report online sexual exploitation of children through CYBERTIP.ca
Can Coquitlam RCMP take crime reports from people who don't speak English?
Yes. 9-1-1 has interpreters available in 170 languages and our local team offers a range of language skills as well for non-emergency reporting.
If you have friends or loved ones who don't speak English fluently encourage them to learn the English word for the language they do speak (i.e., learn to say "Spanish" instead of "Espanol") and the English words for "police", "fire" and "ambulance". Knowing those four words in English will help speed up the process of finding an interpreter and getting the help they need.
What can I expect when I call to report something?
You can expect to be asked a lot of detailed questions. The process might feel too slow but the most important thing to remember is that call-takers are professionals trained to lead you through an established set of questions to make sure our investigators and analysts have all the information they need about the incident you’re reporting.
The best thing you can do is remain calm and answer each question as clearly as you can and in as much detail as possible.
If you are calling from a cell or internet phone, the reporting process will take longer. because landlines provide our call-takers with location information but if you call from a cell or internet phone, the call-taker will have to ask for your location information.
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