COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Police Department has relaunched its online non-emergency reporting website after an increase in shoplifting.
The website must be used for this non-emergency incidents such as “petty theft, vandalism and lost property,” according to a Thursday news release from CPD.
This comes after CPD held a meeting with a number of businesses on November 15 about shoplifting concerns. Columbia has seen an increase in shoplifting every year since 2021, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol data in previous reports. The total number of incidents in 2024 has surpassed the totals for each of those years.
A city spokesperson said Nov. 15 that ways are being explored to streamline the reporting process, including creating an online reporting system.
“The online portal offers citizens a convenient option to quickly and efficiently report certain crimes. However, citizens may choose to report incidents by speaking directly to an official,” said Thursday’s press release. “Online reports are entered into the department’s records management system, where they can be accessed for crime data analysis and investigative leads.”
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