Richmond Police Department

Non-emergency phone number - 510-233-1214 (press zero once the automated voice answers)

For emergencies PLEASE CALL 911 (If calling from a mobile phone, dial 510-233-1214).

FYI...Calling 911 from your mobile phone connects you to the California Highway Patrol's dispatcher, NOT the Richmond Police Department. So, please program your mobile phones with 510-233-1214 for the Richmond Police Department.

Important Links 


Help reduce crime by:

  • Observing your surroundings.
  • Reporting crime when you see it.
  • Getting active by educate yourself about prevention methods and using them!
  • Get involved and get active in a neighborhood watch.
  • Spreading the word about taking precautions, and sharing information with the police department on suspicious activity.

We encourage you to remain alert and arm yourself with this information which could protect you from being the victim of a crime. Please take this report and share it with your neighbors via e-mail and your phone tree. The areas of alert indicate areas that have seen activity in the past month. Please visit CrimeView at www.richmondpd.net for more statistical information on crime.

Personal Safety:
Avoid walking alone unless necessary. Be aware of your surroundings. Use walking routes that are main thoroughfares heavily populated with eyes and ears. Avoid talking on cell phones or wearing ipods or other listening devices that distract your attention when walking. Do not carry expensive items that draw attention with you. Recently in the area of South 23rd there have been reports of adult males committing street robberies for personal property such as laptops and other valuable items. Visit our crime prevention website for more personal safety tips at www.richmondpd.net

There are various reasons why there are many individuals in this day and age who carry large amounts of cash. We strongly recommend that you avoid carrying large amounts of cash on your person. Many thieves target individuals they believe carry cash. Recent victims include Latino males in and around the Richmond Bart station. There are community resources that can help with financial literacy and personal banking. Please contact us for more information.

Auto Safety
Avoid being a victim. Review our auto theft guide located online at the Richmond Police Department Crime Prevention Page at www.richmondpd.net. Don’t leave any articles of value in your vehicle. We can’t tell you how many times the police have taken a report because an enticing item is left in plain view in a vehicle. Lock your doors and windows at all times!!!!

In the past several weeks several carjackings have occurred. Be aware of your surroundings, especially when driving. If you feel uncomfortable while driving program the number for non-emergency into your cell phone (510) 233-1214 and press 0.

Golden opportunities: what do carjackers look for?

  • Intersections controlled by stop lights or signs.
  • Garages and parking lots for mass transit, shopping malls, and grocery stores.
  • Self-serve gas stations and car washes.
  • ATMs (automated teller machines).
  • Residential driveways and streets as people get into and out of cars.
  • Highway exit and entry ramps, or anyplace else that drivers slow down or stop.
The "Bump and Rob"
It works like this. A car, usually with a driver and at least one passenger, rear-ends or "bumps" you in traffic. You quickly get out to check the damage and exchange information. Either the driver or one of the passengers jumps in your car and drives off. If you're bumped by another car, look around before you get out. Make sure there are other cars around, check out the car that's rear-ended you and who's in it. If the situation makes you uneasy, memorize or jot down the car's tag number and description; signal the other car to follow you. Drive to the nearest police station or to a busy, well-lighted area. If you do get out of the car, take your keys (and purse or wallet if you have one) with you and stay alert.

Reduce Your Risk Getting In to Your Car

  • Walk with purpose and stay alert.
  • Approach your car with the key in hand. Look around and inside the car before getting in.
  • Be wary of people asking for directions or handing out fliers. Trust your instincts - if something makes you feel uneasy, get into the car quickly, lock the doors, and drive away.

On the Road

  • Keep your doors locked and windows rolled up (at least part-way, if it's hot and you don't have air conditioning), no matter how short the distance or how safe the neighborhood.
  • When you're coming to a stop, leave enough room to maneuver around other cars, especially if you sense trouble and need to get away.
  • Drive in the center lane to make it harder for would-be carjackers to approach the car.
  • Avoid driving alone. Go with someone whenever possible, especially at night.
  • Don't stop to assist a stranger whose car is broken down. Help instead by driving to the nearest phone and calling police to help.
Getting Out
  • Park in well-lighted areas, near sidewalks or walkways. Avoid parking near dumpsters, woods, large vans or trucks, or anything else that limits your visibility.
  • Never leave valuables in plain view, even if the car is locked. Put them in the trunk or out of sight.
  • Try to park in a garage with an attendant. Leave only the ignition key, with no identification.
  • Even if you're rushed, look around before you get out and stay alert to the surroundings.
If It Happens to You...
  • If the carjacker threatens you with a gun or other weapon, give up your car. Don't argue. Your life is worth more than a car.
  • Get away from the area as quickly as possible.
  • Try to remember what the carjacker looked like - sex, race, age, hair and eye color, special features, clothes.
  • Report the crime immediately to the police.

Home Safety
Lock your doors and windows before leaving the house. Please consider using our home security checklist. Every leave your steamy bathroom window open? Bathroom windows and side windows are areas often targeted because of their accessibility. Invest in a motion sensitive light, or leave your porch light on, if possible. Lock your garage door when possible. Trim bushes and hedges that obscure light. If you have a home alarm system, set it. The one time you forget may be the one time you’re a victim. Call the police if you see suspicious activity in or around your house or your neighbors. Please review our home security checklist at www.richmondpd.net under the crime prevention page.

Business Safety
Please be mindful of activity in and or around your building, especially when opening closing or making deposits. Vary your patterns and routines. Consider a panic alarm button. Follow CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) standards and ensure that your cash register is visible, and the window is not blocked with advertisements. This can help officers tell if the cashier is in distress. Take note of suspicious people who enter your place of business and visually survey your business. If you have security cameras or systems invest in good ones that capture details, and make sure that you save the tape and get it to the police department quickly in the event a robbery occurs. Report loitering to police often, and consider filing a letter of trespass. Make sure you have proper signage on your building. Develop a strong relationship with your local beat officers and make them aw are of suspicious activity. Report robberies immediately to 911. Consider starting a business watch if you are in a commercial corridor.

Code Enforcement
We’ve all seen signs of the sour economy, however, did you know abandoned homes can create a perfect breeding ground for criminal activity? Report abandoned homes to code enforcement at (510) 620-1279 immediately!

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Code Enforcement

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