Crime Reporting
Using digital reporting tools to increase residents’ willingness
to report incidents
Offering residents the option to report suspicious activity through an app boosts reporting rates.
Developed in San Miguel, Argentina and adopted in other cities including Mendoza, Argentina, Ojos en Alerta (OEA), or “Eyes on Alert,” lets residents report suspicious activity through WhatsApp using text, photos, video, voice notes, and live location. Operators at a municipal monitoring center review each report, cross-check it against CCTV and 911 data, and dispatch police in real time.
A mixed-methods evaluation in San Miguel and Mendoza found strong evidence that OEA is meeting its primary goal: users are 2–3 times more likely to report incidents than non-users, and among victims of crime in San Miguel, 7 in 10 active OEA users reported the incident, compared with 4 in 10 non-users. Since 2016, dozens of cities across Argentina have adopted the program.
The Challenge:
- In the mid-2000s, cities in Argentina lacked vital public safety data. Residents rarely reported crimes, and police often responded slowly.
- Without real-time data, cities could not accurately target crime hotspots or develop effective crime prevention strategies.
- Underreporting is a region-wide problem: across ten Latin American and Caribbean countries, only 25% of crimes are reported to authorities, and Argentina’s overall reporting rate is estimated at 37%.
The Solution:
- Residents report suspicious activity through WhatsApp, a platform already used by 80% of Argentinians, removing the need to download an app or learn a new system.
- Operators at a 24/7 monitoring center review each report, cross-check it against CCTV cameras and 911 data, and dispatch municipal prevention police patrols in real time. Operators aim to reply within 1 minute and patrols aim to arrive within 10 minutes; both cities held a median response time of 9 minutes in 2025.
The Impact:
- Overall, users are 2 – 3 times more likely to report incidents than non-users.
- Among crime victims in San Miguel, 7 in 10 active users reported the incident, compared with 4 in 10 non-users.
- The program increased total reporting and diverted non-emergencies from 911. In Mendoza, OEA overtook 911 in 2023 as the primary channel for suspicious activity reports, freeing 911 to focus on emergencies.
- A dedicated preventive police force and rapid response times drove the success. When residents see that reports are acknowledged and acted on quickly, reporting becomes worth the effort, and they report again.
What you can do with this evidence:
- Increase reporting rates by lowering barriers, using a messaging channel residents already have on their phones.
- Route preventive, low-urgency reports away from 911 so emergency lines stay focused on emergencies.
Download Fact Sheet: