If you have been a victim of a crime, report it!  Whether it's as "small" as the theft of $10 from your bank account or as "large" as auto theft or armed robbery, nothing can be done if you don't report it.

Call 911 if you are the victim of a crime-in-progress that poses a threat to anyone's safety, such as a robbery, assault, burglary, or similar crimes, or for these sorts of crimes that have just occurred (within the past five minutes). For all other crimes, call the Lancaster Sheriff's Station non-emergency number at (661) 948-8466.

*Thefts that cannot be reported online (contact the Sheriff's Station directly):

• Burglary (theft from a residence or other building, except shoplifting)
• Robbery (theft by force or fear of force; "stick-ups," "muggings," and armed robberies)
• Vehicle burglary (theft from a locked car)
• Vehicle theft
• Identity theft/fraud
• Any theft whose total value exceeds $5,000

For vandalism involving graffiti, it is strongly recommended that you contact the Sheriff's Station directly before using the online form. Pictures of the graffiti are necessary to track and locate the perpetrators.  Please see our Graffiti Removal page for more information. 

If you see graffiti on public property adjacent to or near your property, please call the Lancaster Sheriff's Station first at (661) 948-8466 to file a report.

If for any reason you feel that you cannot wait for a report to be taken before removing the graffiti, be sure to take detailed color photographs of the graffiti before removing it, and submit the photos (or color copies) to the officer when the vandalism report is taken.

To report graffiti for removal, call the Graffiti Removal hotline at (661) 723-5977, or send an email to DSDintern2@cityoflancasterca.gov (subject "Graffiti Removal"). You will need to provide your name and phone number along with the exact address or nearest cross-streets and good description of the location, the position of the graffiti at that location (i.e. on a wall, a sign, the sidewalk, etc.), and a description of the graffiti itself, including color, material used (if known), and if the graffiti contains any obscenities. The hotline is only staffed during City business hours, but a voicemail box is available for you to leave this information at any time. Remember, through the crew makes every effort to respond to requests within 48 hours, this is not always possible.

If you see a crime-in-progress, or see suspicious activity, report it!  Call the Sheriff's Station, Crime Stoppers, or visit https://www.lacrimestoppers.org [link will open in a new window] to use the online tip submission form.  For more information on submitting anonymous tips using Crime Stoppers: please visit our Anonymous Crime Tips page.  Not sure if what you're seeing counts as "suspicious activity?"  Download our tip-sheet at the top of this page.

The Lancaster Police Department would like to remind Lancaster residents that there are several options available for reporting crime and suspicious activity. Of course, if you are witnessing a crime in progress, you should always call the Sheriff’s Station at (661) 948-8466 (dial 911 if there is an immediate threat to someone’s life and/or safety).

Filing a Police Report
Residents need to file police reports at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. 

Los Angeles Crime Stoppers
(800) 222-TIPS (8477)
www.lacrimestoppers.org

Crime Stoppers is a national anonymous tip line that was launched in 1976 by a detective. Since then, the program has expanded to over 1,400 satellite programs across the world.

Our local Crime Stoppers program works with the Sheriff’s Department and all law enforcement agencies throughout Los Angeles County to help solve crimes by collecting tips from people all over, including those who may live out of the area. The caller is provided with a secret code for tracking and reward purposes, and assuming the caller provides any personal information when calling, the caller’s identity is encrypted for protection.

Reporting tips to Crime Stoppers can also be done online via the link above, or even from your text-capable cell phone by texting “TIPLA” and your tip to 274637.

For more information about reporting crime and suspicious activity, please see the Lancaster Police Department Office’s Reporting Crime & Suspicious Activity page, or contact the Office at (661) 723-6063 or publicsafety@cityoflancasterca.gov.