Being a witness to a crime of any sort is not on everybody’s bucket list. Most times you find yourself in a position you hadn’t planned on. This is especially complicated if it happens in a place where you spend a lot of time, say an office or your home. You could be a witness or just have the unfortunate pleasure of coming around after the crime has been committed. In the heat of the moment, you may not know what to do. If so, here is a guide to help you get through such dark days:
1. Stay calm
This may seem impossible seeing as it was a crime and your adrenaline is on overdrive. However, if you were the first person on the scene or you are the owner, your staff or colleagues will be looking up to you on what to do next. Therefore, if you panic, there is a very good chance that the rest of the people will as well. Try your best to maintain calm and if possible, make sure people maintain a distance between themselves and the scene. This is so as not to mess with evidence.
2. Call the police
This would be the logical next step unless you have something to hide, in which case, the police will still find out later. Therefore, for the sake of the wellbeing of everybody, it is wise to call the authorities. Make sure to give them your full address to make their work easier. The sooner you make the call, the sooner they get down to the business of finding out who is responsible. Also, the sooner they finish, the sooner you can try to move on.
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3. Be cooperative
It is imperative that when the authorities arrive, you be as cooperative as possible. If you were a witness, try to give a detailed and accurate explanation of what transpired. If you happened to stumble upon the scene, give a full description of what you saw. It is important that you are honest. If you hold back evidence, you could be charged with obstruction of justice. It is not a time to save face. Furthermore, the more information you provide relevant to the case, the sooner your case will be solved and life can go on.
4. Call a crime scene cleanup crew
The police might have their own cleanup crew on site. However, they may collect the evidence they need and release the crime scene when they are satisfied. If it is your home or office, you probably want to go back to your normal routine. It is wise to hire a professional crime scene cleanup crew to do the aftermath cleanup. They will restore order to your vicinity.
5. See a counsellor
Being in such a position can take a toll on even the strongest person. Therefore, see a counsellor or anyone you trust just to talk things out. This will prevent you from falling into depression because of anything you might have experienced at that time.
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