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Resident guide · Checked against the source

How do you file a police report in Austin?

File most non-emergency Austin police reports online. Phone: 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000. 911 only for crimes in progress.

Updated . Checked against the official source linked below.

By the ATX Untangled Research Desk. Researched and verified against Austin city code and the official sources linked below.

Short answer

Austin takes most non-emergency police reports online through the city's official filing page: minor assault, burglary without arson, theft, lost property, graffiti or property damage, fraud, identity theft, harassment, hit and run, and similar offenses where the suspect is gone and nobody is in danger. Vehicle theft, firearms, prescription drugs, and license plates are excluded from online filing. File by phone at 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 if you are under 17, have no email address, or the offense is not on the online list. Call 911 only when a crime is happening now or someone is in immediate danger.

Who this is for

Austin residents who need to document a crime that already happened and are not in immediate danger.

Next steps

  1. Rule out an emergency first: if a crime is in progress, the suspect is still there, or anyone is in danger, call 911 instead of filing anything online.
  2. Check that the offense is on the city's online filing list; vehicle theft, firearms, prescription medication, and license plates cannot be filed online.
  3. File through the city's official police report page with your email and the incident details, then save the report number it gives you.
  4. If you are under 17, have no email address, or the offense is not eligible online, file by phone with Austin 311 or 512-974-2000.

Have this ready

  • A valid email address, which online filing requires
  • The date, time, and location of what happened
  • A description of the property, damage, or suspect if known
  • A phone if the offense or your situation requires filing by phone

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Calling 911 for a crime that already happened and is not dangerous
  • Trying to file vehicle theft, firearms, or license plate losses online; those are excluded
  • Treating an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip as a police report; a tip cannot be used for insurance
  • Filing without saving the report number, which insurance and follow-up calls ask for

Key facts

  • Online filing is the city's preferred channel for most non-emergency crimes.
  • File by phone at 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 if you are under 17, have no email, or the offense is not on the online list.
  • Anonymous tips go to Austin Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477, but a tip is not a police report.

Checked September 8, 2026 against the official source.

Common questions

Can I file a car theft online in Austin?

No. Motor vehicle theft of any kind is excluded from online filing, along with firearms, prescription medication, and license plates. Call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 to report those.

How do I report a crime anonymously?

Through Austin Crime Stoppers at austincrimestoppers.org or 512-472-8477. An anonymous tip helps an investigation but it is not a police report, so it will not work for an insurance claim.

Official sources

Checked September 8, 2026. Recheck the official page monthly and when the official page changes.

Get routed to the right report channel

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ATX Untangled is independent and does not determine eligibility or provide legal advice.