The Palo Alto Police Department accepts the following reports from citizens as an alternative officer response.  From this page you may access certain forms to download or fill out online such as:

• Theft Reports (no suspect/not in progress/no vehicles/no firearms)
• Counter Traffic Accident Form (non-injury/no suspect)
• Lost Property (no suspect/not in progress/no vehicles/no firearms)
• Vandalism (no suspect/not in progress) – No Graffiti
• Shoreline Amphitheatre Noise Complaint Form In-Season
  (Complaints can also be made by phone at: 650-329-2631)
• Confidential Tip Form
• Employee Commendation Form
• Employee Complaint Form
• Traffic Complaint Form
• Abandon Vehicle Form  

Please read the instructions and click on the provided links below.

Reporting Crimes and Incidents Online

Due to the recent and on-going budget cuts and the elimination of support personnel, we no longer have the staff to complete, review, and process on-line reports as previously handled.  In an effort to provide citizens with an opportunity to file a report for the following crimes or incidents, we have created a Citizen’s Crime Report Form which can be downloaded here, or obtained at the Police Department Records Unit front desk. You will need to complete the form with all pertinent information and submit the form in person to the Police Department Records Unit during normal business hours, Monday – Thursday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. At that time, you will receive a case number for your records.  Please note, unless the crime you are reporting is part of a crime trend in your area, you will probably not be contacted by an officer or investigator.  Additionally, knowingly submitting a false crime report is a misdemeanor under California Penal Code Section 148.5 and is punishable by 6 months, $1,000 fine, or both.

 Please download the Citizen’s Crime Report Form to report the following Crimes or Incidents if it occurred in the City of Palo Alto and you have no suspect information:

• Annoying/Harassing Phone Calls
• Lost Property
• Misdemeanor Vandalism – Malicious mischief or damage done to your property.  Not Graffiti.
• Petty Theft – The unlawful taking of the personal property of another valued at $950 or less.
• Grand Theft – The unlawful taking of the personal property of another valued at more than $950. If the value of the total property taken is greater than $5,000 dollars, do not use this form.  Call the Palo Alto Police Communications Center at 650.329.2413 to report this crime.  

  Instructions for Citizen’s Crime Report Form

  Do not report in progress crimes or Emergencies via this form.  Call 9-1-1. 

  Review the previous guidelines above.  Form must be submitted in Person.

  Click on link below and download the form.

  Down Load the Citizen's Crime Report Form

  Fill out all pertinent information listed on the report form.  Please provide as much descriptive information as possible such as make, model and serial numbers.  Please include a dollar amount for all thefts and for vandalized damaged property.

  If you are reporting a theft of a Bike, please include the speed, and type of bike, such as Boys/Girls. 

  If you have more property items then the form allows, you may download the Citizen’s Property Loss Report Form. 

  The Citizen’s Crime Report must be filed in person.  Please bring applicable forms to the Police Department during regular business hours. (Mon-Thurs. 8-4)  We are located at:

  Palo Alto Police Department Records Unit

  275 Forest Avenue

  Palo Alto, CA 94301

  650.329.2406

  If you would like to fill out the Citizen’s Crime Report Form in person, please come to the Palo Alto Police Department Records Unit to obtain the form.  

  Instructions for Counter Traffic Accident Form

  If you have been involved in a non-injury traffic collision where you exchanged names; were the victim of a private property accident with no injury, or suspect you may download the Counter Traffic Accident Form, fill it out and submit it in person to the Palo Alto Police Department Records Unit during normal business hours (Monday-Thursday 8:00 am to 4 pm.)  The collision must have happened within the City of Palo Alto.  Do not use this form if the collision occurred on the Freeway.  Once the form is filed with us in person, you will be given a report case number for your records.  Click on link below to download the form.

  If you would like to fill out the Counter Traffic Collision Form in person, please come to the Palo Alto Police Department Records Unit to obtain the form. 

  Down Load the Counter Traffic Collision Form

  Citation Sign-Off’s  

  The Palo Alto Police Department provides Cite Sign Off’s to Residents of Palo Alto, or to citizens that have received a citation from the Palo Alto Police Department.  This service is performed Monday – Thursday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.   

  Abandoned Vehicles

  Residents may call (650) 329-2258, 24 hours a day to report vehicles abandoned or stored on public roadways.  Vehicles are checked within three business days.   

  Make a Confidential Crime Tip  

  Online Crime Tip Reporting allows citizens to anonymously provide information to the Police about suspicious activity and criminal actions within their neighborhoods.  The public can also send an anonymous text or e-mail message to paloalto@tipnow.org to report what they are seeing, or to provide information about a case the police may be investigating.  Click HERE for more information on the Tip Now program.