Riggs: Victims failing to report crimes

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Indianapolis Public Safety Director Troy Riggs believes residents are failing to report crimes.

According national studies, crime is underreported in most major cities by 30 to 50 percent. Riggs is in the process of trying to collect evidence to determine what percentages of crimes are not being reported here in Indianapolis.

“If we don’t know about it, we can’t do much to solve the crime,” said Riggs.

Preliminary results show Riggs that most of the crimes are coming from sex abuse cases, petty crimes, and fraud investigations. An efficiency team of volunteers has been formed to study why more crimes in the city are not reported. Some early suggestions include online reporting, creating a secondary number to call to file a report, and adding civilians to the list of people who can take reports from victims.

“If people start reporting crime, we can see a spike in certain crimes,” said Riggs. “I know that sounds odd, but the crime is already occurring and we need to know about it if we are going to look at patterns and use intelligent policing.”

Rachel Cooper of Southeast Community Organization added she doesn’t have a problem reporting crime and she will urge her neighbors to call 911 more.

“I don’t hesitate to call 911 and I don’t hesitate to call my commander’s cell,” said Cooper.