If you are a witness to a crime, there are certain things that the police will ask you. If you know what questions will be asked before the event, you will be more likely to make a mental note about the situation.

Vehicle Identification
Well certainty the tag and state are one of the most important ways to identify a vehicle. But even if you get the tag or partial tag, the make model and color can all be important. The police can obtain information with partial tag information provided by the witness but the color and make of the vehicle are also important in identifying the vehicle. You will be asked about the body style, 2 door, 4 door, hatchback, van, or SUV type vehicle. You will be asked about the condition of the vehicle. Was it old and faded? Was it newer? Did it look well maintained? Did it have anything unusual about it? Did it have a sun roof? When you look at the vehicle, look for anything that will distinguish the vehicle from another. It could be a bumper sticker or window sticker (parking sticker, college sticker). Look for any visible damage to the vehicle. Look for any unusual marks in the paint. Look for the color of the interior of the vehicle. Look for the seat configuration, bucket seats, bench seats, children seats.

Person Identification
In some ways, vehicles are easier to identify than people because most vehicles on the street have license plates that are vehicle specific. But on the other hand, while two cars can look identical, people all look different. So what should you look for and what will the police be asking. The basics will be height, weight, sex, race, hair color, eye color, approximate age, and type of clothes including color (don’t forget the shoes). Sometimes it may be easier to compare the suspect’s size with a person that you know is the same size and weight. Try to notice things about the person that stand out from other people. It could be a birth mark, a tattoo, a crooked nose, no eyebrows, ears that stick out. Most people have something that stands out; it just might not stand out to you or be visible. Try to observe how the person walks, the sound of their voice and the manner in which they speak. These could all give clues as to the identity of the suspect. Did they have an accent? Did they walk with a limp? Were they loud? Were they well spoken with good grammar? Every little clue will help fit the puzzle and help the police in identifying the person.

How Did It Happen / What were the sequence of events?
In addition to observing and identifying vehicles and people, a good witness should be able to recount a sequence of events and be able to repeat the words of the suspect. If you don’t have a photographic memory, it would probably help to take notes immediately after seeing an event. It is very hard to remember all the details and all the things a person said during an event. The quicker you can write it down, the better description you will be able to give. Try to remember if the suspect touched anything or ate/drank anything. This could be a place where the police could find evidence such as fingerprints, shoe prints or DNA evidence.