Redwood Heights Neighborhood News

by Denise Davila

FBI Aids Redwood Heights Neighbors'

A range of activity marked the beginning of the year in Redwood Heights. From accounts of mail theft, to questionable cars and solicitors, to burglaries, neighbors have shared their experiences via the Redwood Heights email group. The email listserv provides a means by which residents can inform neighbors of incidents in the area: groups.yahoo.com/group/RedwoodHeights.

The FBI, however, has recently introduced me to another useful, but seemingly little known, online tool for Oaklanders. Here's the story:

In January, I telephoned the Oakland Police Department (OPD) nonemergency line. I needed to file a report that the locking post boxes on my street had been broken into and all of the residents' mail had been stolen. I was referred to the FBI. According to the operator, post boxes are under federal jurisdiction and OPD does not handle mail theft. Ironically, another neighbor who telephoned OPD was referred to the U.S. Postal Service. I guess the one consistency was that neither operator wanted to take our information.

The mail theft occurred on a weekend, so I had to wait for Monday morning to contact the Oakland FBI. I left a telephone message with an agent and thought for sure that I would never receive a response. Much to my surprise, the agent called within the hour. She had never heard of the FBI handling mail theft, but offered to help me nonetheless. I explained that I needed a police report number to in order to place a security freeze on my credit with a particular agency.'

"Let me get in touch with some of my OPD contacts, and I'll get back to you," the agent said. Fifteen minutes later, my phone rang.

"Okay, my contacts said you can file a citizen police report on the OPD Web site" she reported.'

The FBI agent stayed on the telephone line while I pulled up the Web site on my computer. Then she directed me to the correct link to make the report. To make a citizen police report with OPD, go to: www.oaklandpolice.com. In the middle of the page, select the link: "Download and Submit a Citizen Crime Report". This link can be used to report crimes such as lost property, theft, vandalism, vehicle burglary, and vehicle tampering. '

Once your report is submitted, the OPD will review the information and provide a police report number via your email address. I received my confirmation number in just two days.'

I am still amazed by the tremendous courtesy I received from this federal agent. I hope nonemergency operators will soon help callers to file OPD reports online too.