REPORT WRITING MANUAL

OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT

F-1
1 Nov 84

LOST OR FOUND PROPERTY REPORT

(TF-995)
Complete this report for incidents involving lost property, found
property, or property taker, in for safekeeping or destruction.
Lost Property: Complete whenever a citizen reports the loss of an article
of real or intrinsic value providing no recognizable elements of any
crime were present when the loss occurred.
Found Property: Complete whenever a person contacts the Department
to turn over property that they have found, or when a Departmental
member finds and recovers any non-evidentiary property.
Property having identifiable characteristics (i.e., serial number, name of
owner engraved on surface, etc.) shall be checked to ascertain if it is
connected with a reported offense before it can be turned in as "Found
Property."
1.

If the property car, be connected with a reported offense,

recover it as evidence and complete an Additional Information
Report (536-280) as a supplemental to the existing offense report
under the existing RD number.

2.

If the property cannot be connected with any reported offense,

but you believe that it may be involved with a crime (e.g., a safe
found with its door forcibly removed or "peeled" off), recover the
property as evidence and complete a suspicious circumstances
offense report.

A Lost or Found Property Report would not be completed in either of the

above described situations.
Found property will usually be turned in to the Property Section with no
attempt by the reporting officer to contact the owner. In cases where
the found property appears to be of little police interest and the owner
can be easily located, the property may be returned to the owner at the
scene. In such cases, the member shall complete a report and have the
owner acknowledge receipt of their returned property by signing their
name beside the phrase, "I hereby acknowledge receipt of the property
listed in this report." This, or similar wording, should be included in the
narrative portion of the report.

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REPORT WRITING MANUAL

OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT

F-1
1 Nov 84

Safekeeping: Complete whenever property is accepted for safekeeping

by the Department. Property that may be taken in for safekeeping is
property that could be the means to commit an offense or the object of
an offense.
NOTE: Do not complete a safekeeping report when an offense has
occurred (or is suspected to have occurred) such as a 427 PC,
and the participants merely want the gun or other weapon
taken in for safekeeping. In such cases, complete a Crime
Report and take the weapon in as evidence.
FORM COMPLETION INSTRUCTIONS
Box 1

Enter the reporting person's name, sex, race, and date of birth.

Box 2

Check the appropriate box regarding the reporting person.

Box 3

Enter the reporting person's address, including zip code.

Boxes

Enter the reporting person's residence and business telephone

numbers.

4-5
Box 6

Enter the reporting person's business address. If the reporting

person is a Departmental member, enter OPD.

Box 7

Enter the location of the incident.

Box 8

Describe the type of premises where the incident occurred.

Box 9

Enter the exact date and time occurred whenever possible. If

unknown, use a span of dates and times to bracket the time of
occurrence to the nearest day and hour.

Box 10

Enter the date and time of your arrival at the scene.

Boxes

Enter the nave, address, and telephone number of the owner

of the property
owner, if known.

11-13

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REPORT WRITING MANUAL

OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
Box 14

F-1
1 Nov 84

Instructions:
1. Itemize and describe all property, including its subsequent
disposition.
2. Summarize the details of the incident in accordance with
the instructions printed on the form. If you are receiving
custody of "found property" have the finder sign and
date the declaration in the space provided in box 15.
3. If you are receiving property that is being turned in for
destruction, specify this in the narrative and have the
responsible person sign the declaration in box 15.

Box 15

When receiving custody of any found property, have the finder

sign and date the declaration as required by the Civil Code.

Box 16

Print your first initial, last name, and serial number.

Box 17

Enter second officer's serial number, if applicable.

Box 18

Print the first initial and last name of your supervisor, including
the watch and district to which you are assigned.

Box 19

Check the appropriate box.

Box 20

Designate the agency or detail to receive an extra copy of your

report by placing an "X" in the appropriate box.

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