Baltimore to Launch Crime Report Website

Baltimore City is set to launch an online crime-reporting service designed to spare crime victims long waits for a patrolman and save some money at the same time.

"Because of the volume of 911 calls, citizens sometimes wait hours to get a simple report to give to insurance companies to get work rendered on property," Councilman Brandon Scott said.

The new website will streamline the process and it will cut down on frustration for citizens, while allowing police officers to operate more efficiently.

Baltimore Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the site will be similar to pages already up and running in neighboring counties. Police said they expect to roll out the website in the spring, and it can be accessed through the department's existing page.

Baltimore County said it currently allows residents to report non-violent crimes like theft, abandoned vehicles, destruction of property and some hit-and-runs.