CHAPTER II:

5Ws and 1H
of Police Reports
• Instructor: MS. JOY L. MENDINA
WHO The question that identifies a
person.
In police communication, if we refer to one, then we should

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refer to him alone, and not to any other person.
• This refers to the individuals involved in the incident,
including victims, witnesses and suspects
Name spelled correctly, included are;
• his or her middle name
• Alias/es
• Specific address
• Nature and place of work
The following answers the WHO question:
a. Who was the victim?
b. Who was the suspect?
c. Who were the witnesses?
d. Who saw, heard, smelled or tasted anything relevant to the crime?
e. Whom did the suspect talk to?
f. Whom did the victim talk to?
g. Who helped the suspect commit the crime?
h. Who processed the crime scene?
i. Who was the evidence custodian?
j. With whom the suspect was last seen?
k. With whom the victim was last seen?
l. Who informed the police officers about the crime?
m.Who first noticed that the bank was burning?
n. Who called the firemen to the crime scene?
o. Who accompanied the victim to the hospital for treatment?
p. Who saw the suspect hiding in an open manhole?
what? A question that accurately names
and describes all material things
relevant to the case.
This describes the specific details of the incident, such as
- Type of the crime committed
- The action taken by individuals involved
- Any properties damaged
- Injuries sustained
In police communication, writer of police report must include all necessary
characteristics of things mentioned like;
• Shape
• Color
• Texture
• Sixe
• Length
Example Types of Crimes committed
1. Theft – taking someone else`s property without their own permission.
2. Assault – intentionally causing physical harm to other person
3. Robbery – involves theft or attempted theft with the use of force threat.
4. Burglary – unlawful entry into a building or structure with the intent to commit a
crime, typically theft.
5. Fraud – deceptive or dis-honest behavior for personal gain, or insurance fraud.
6. Homicide – unlawfully causing the death of another person.
7. Drug offenses – involve the possession, sale, or distribution of illegal drugs.
8. Property crimes – crimes involve damaging or interfering with someone else`s
property, such as vandalism and arson.

Example sentence:
• I witnessed a hit-and-run incident on Rizal street today at around 3:30 PM. The
suspect fled the area without even looking back.
• A firefighters discovered a fire in the kitchen at Ilawod Street, Legazpi. The ecause of
Fire was determined to be faulty electrical appliance.
The following answers the WHAT question:
a. What property was stolen, lost or found?
b. What type of property was attacked?
c. What type of evidence was found at the crime scene?
d. What type of weapon use in crime?
e. What tool or machine was used in the crime?
f. What did the suspect do after committing the crime?
g. What defense did the victim offer after being attacked?
h. What did the witness observe about the crime?
i. What was done to the pieces of evidence gathered?
j. What was done to the victim?
k. What was done at the crime scene?
l. What did the suspect say before, during or after the crime?
m. What was the relationship between the victim and the suspect?
n. What was the color of the suspects clothes?
o. What was the victim doing before he was attacked by the suspect?
p. What word or words did the suspect tell after committing the crime?
WHERE The question that locates
specific location of a certain
place.

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This specifies the location of the incident, including the
address, landmarks, or any other relevant details.
Answers geographical location:
• The crime scene
• The person
• The property
• The evidence
The following answers the WHERE question:
a. Where was the crime committed?
b. Where was the piece of evidence discovered?
c. Where the suspect hide the weapon he used?
d. Where was the victim found?
e. Where was the suspect seen during the crime?
f. Where was the exit of the suspect?
g. Where was the entrance of the suspect?
h. Where did the suspect hide after committing the crime?
i. Where the hangouts of the suspect?
j. Where was the piece of evidence stored?
k. Where did the suspect pass through?
l. Where is the place of residence of the suspect?
m. Where is the place of birth of the victim?
n. Where did the suspect run to after committing the crime?
WHEnE The question that answers
specific date and time the
crime has committed?
This indicates the date and time the incident occurred. It is crucial to

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note the exact time to establish an accurate timeline of events.
The date should be written completely and the time indicated
whether in the;
• Morning
• At noon
• In the afternoon
• During nighttime
 A.M
 P.M
The following answers the WHEN question:
a. When was the crime committed?
b. When was the crime discovered?
c. When was the victim found?
d. When did the victim, see, hear, smell, touch, or taste something unusual?
e. When was the piece of evidence recovered?
f. When was the police informed of the crime?
g. When did the police arrive at the crime scene?
h. When did the suspect plan to commit the crime?
i. When did the victim know that he was robbed?
j. When was the crime the scene cordoned?
k. When was the crime scene turned over to the SOCO?
l. When was the victim last scene?
m. When was the suspect seen with the victim?
n. When was the last time the suspect was charged with an offense?
o. When did the suspect know that the police are looking for him?
p. When the suspect apologize to the victim?
Why? The question that answers the
motive of the perpetrator
committing the crime.
This focuses on the motive or reason behind the incident. It may involve
understanding the intentions of the perpetrator or circumstances that led to
the incident.
Basic reason as to why the crime is committed with a proper explanation of the
following motive:
• Revenge
• Hatred
• Jealousy
• Material gain
• Personal gain or Lust
The following answers the WHY question:
a. Why did the suspect commit the crime?
b. Why did the suspect choose to use certain tools or weapons?
c. Why the person report the crime to the police?
d. Why did the suspect, himself, report the crime to the police?
e. Why did the victim go to the place where he was attacked?
f. Why did not the victim defend himself?
g. Why did not the victim ask help from bystanders?
h. Why did the suspect choose the time to commit the crime?
i. Why did the suspect choose the place to commit the crime?
j. Why were the witnesses hesitant to give their testimony?
k. Why were the pieces of evidence destroyed?
l. Why were the pieces of evidence absent from the crime scene?
m. Why did not the police arrive on time to the crime scene?
n. Why was there no light to crime to the crime scene?
o. Why was there somebody at the crime scene when the crime happened?
p. Why did not the victim notice that the suspect was about to hack him?
 The questions answers the

how? manner was committed.

This outlines the methods or techniques used during the incident. It can
include details about weapons or tools used, the entry or exit points, or
any other pertinent information.
It is necessary that the police officer use adverbs so that the reader could
imagine and understand exactly how the crime was committed.
 Mention a Verb with a modifier (adverb).
o Example:
(simple) The suspect glanced around, avoided eye
contact, and walked away.
(w/ modifier) The suspect nervously glanced around, anxiously
avoiding eye contact, and hastily walked away
from the crime scene.
The following answers the HOW question:
a. How did the suspect commit the crime?
b. How did the suspect go to the crime scene?
c. How did the suspect leave the crime scene?
d. How did the witness observe the crime?
e. How did the victim know about the plan of the suspect to attack him?
f. How much money was take from the bank?
g. how often do the suspects loiter around the pawn shop?
h. How often do the suspect loiter around the pawn shop?
i. How long was the bolo that was used in the crime?
j. How much did the suspect give to witness for him not to testify in court?
k. How long did the suspect stay inside the bank before they declared the bank robbery?
l. How heavy was the stone the suspect used?
m. How was the room was the crime committed?
n. How did the victim run away from the suspect?
o. How did the police know of the crime?
p. How did the suspect stab the victim?
q. How much was spent by the victim in the hospital?
Direction: Fill in the missing information in the blank spaces
to complete the police reports by providing
accurate and relevant details.

1.Incident: ______ witnessed a ______ near ______ of

______. The suspects) were last seen ______.

Answer: A cyclist witnessed a hit-and-run accident near

the intersection of SM City Legazpi. The suspect(s)
were last seen fleeing, driving his 10-wheeler truck.
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1. ______ reported a ______ at ______ on______. The suspect(s) allegedly ______.
2. ______ witnessed a ______ near ______ on/at ______. The victim was ______.
3. ______ discovered a ______ in the ______ on/at ______. The stolen item was ______.

4. ______ witnessed a ______ near ______ on/at ______. The victim suffered ______.

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5. ______ discovered a ______ at/on ______. The cause of fire is ______.
6. ______ found a ______ in the ______ at ______. The victim`s identification is ______.

7. ______ reported a ______ at/on ______. The suspect(s) used a ______ as a weapon.

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8. ______ heard a ______ at ______ on ______. The suspect(s) fled on a ______ direction.
9. ______ called the police about a ______ at/on ______. The motive behind the crime is
______
At
- Is used to describe a specific location or point n space.
It is used when referring to a place or position:
- “I am at the park.”
- “I am at the restaurant.”

- Used to indicate a surface or a specific area within a

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larger place.
• “I am on the street.” or “The book is on the table.”
- Used to describe a specific time or date.
• “The concert start on Friday at 8 PM”
- Used to describe specific boundaries or Areas
• “We are on the campus of the Bicol University”
Sample Case Scenarios
1. Theft A convenience store owner reports a theft incident where a suspect stole cash from the cash
register. The incident occurred during the evening shift, and there were no witnesses present at the
time. The store has surveillance cameras, but they were not functioning properly.
2. Assault A victim reports being assaulted in a park late at night. The victim was walking alone when an
unknown assailant approached from behind and attacked them. The victim managed to escape and seek
help from a passerby who called the police.
3. Traffic Accident Two vehicles were involved in a collision at an intersection. One driver claims to
have had the right of way, while the other driver disputes this. There were multiple witnesses present at
the scene, and both drivers sustained minor injuries.
4. Burglary A homeowner returns from a vacation to find their house has been burglarized. The incident
likely occurred during their absence, and valuable items such as jewelry and electronics were stolen.
There are no known witnesses to the burglary.
5. Drug Possession A police officer conducts a routine traffic stop and discovers illegal drugs in the
suspect's vehicle. The officer performs a search and finds a significant quantity of drugs, along with
drug paraphernalia. The suspect is taken into custody.