The Carrollton non-emergency number is 972-466-3333, staffed 24 hours a day for police matters that need attention but aren’t life-threatening. From a cell phone, you can also dial *247, which reaches the same dispatch center that serves Carrollton, Coppell, Farmers Branch, and Addison.1City of Carrollton, TX. Public Safety Landline callers should use the full ten-digit number.2City of Carrollton. Contact Us For certain lower-level crimes, you can skip the phone entirely and file online.
When to Use the Non-Emergency Line
Use 972-466-3333 when no one is in immediate danger and no crime is actively unfolding. The city points to these as typical examples:
- Noise complaints
- Stolen vehicles or bicycles, after the fact
- Assaults that already happened and the suspect is gone
- Suspicious behavior that doesn’t feel threatening enough for 911
- Vehicle break-ins that aren’t in progress1City of Carrollton, TX. Public Safety
Animal concerns can also come through this line, especially on Sundays and holidays when Animal Services officers are dispatched through the police department.3City of Carrollton, TX. Contact Animal Services Code enforcement issues, like overgrown yards, junk vehicles, or building violations, go through the city’s Environmental Services department instead, not the police line.4City of Carrollton, TX. Code Enforcement – Neighborhood Integrity
When to Call 911 Instead
Active violence, a crime in progress, a medical emergency, or a fire all require 911. The practical difference is response speed: 911 triggers an immediate officer dispatch, while the non-emergency line queues your request for the next available resource. If you’re not sure which fits, call 911. Dispatchers can downgrade a priority if the situation turns out to be less urgent, and a good-faith call isn’t going to get you in trouble.
Mental Health Situations
If someone is in emotional distress, having suicidal thoughts, or in a substance use crisis but no one is being physically harmed, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is often the better call. Dialing or texting 988 connects you with trained crisis counselors, free and confidential, around the clock.5988 Lifeline. 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline If someone is actively hurting themselves or another person, that’s still 911.
Civil Disputes
Officers generally can’t settle civil matters like landlord-tenant disagreements, property line fights, or custody exchanges. Those belong in court. Some situations qualify for a civil standby, where an officer is present only to keep the peace while someone retrieves belongings or completes an exchange. Call the non-emergency line and ask whether a standby is available for your circumstances.
Filing a Report Online
Carrollton’s online reporting system accepts a specific list of non-violent crimes:
- Burglary of a vehicle, storage unit, or coin-operated machine
- Credit or debit card fraud
- Criminal mischief and vandalism
- Forgery
- Harassment, including phone and social media
- Identity theft
- Lost property
- Package and mail theft
- Shoplifting
- Theft under $2,500 or theft of service
- Criminal trespass6City of Carrollton, TX. Carrollton PD Empowers Residents with Easy Online Tool for Reporting Non-Emergency Crimes7Carrollton Police Department. Citizens Online Police Reporting System
You can reach the system through the city’s website or directly at carrolltonpd.com.8City of Carrollton. File a Police Report The system won’t take reports involving known suspects who are still present, injuries, or anything requiring an immediate officer response. If your situation falls outside the list, call 972-466-3333.
What to Have Ready
Gathering the details before you call or start an online report speeds things up and gives investigators more to work with:
- The street address or nearest intersection
- The date and approximate time
- Vehicle make, model, color, and license plate, if one was involved
- Suspect description: height, build, clothing, distinguishing features
- Serial numbers for stolen electronics, photos of damage, or receipts showing value
If you have photos, video, or screenshots, the online system will ask you to describe what you have and to keep it.7Carrollton Police Department. Citizens Online Police Reporting System Don’t delete anything from your phone or camera.
What Happens After You File
Online submissions go to a review team at the Carrollton Police Department. If the report checks out, you’ll receive a permanent case number by email, so check your spam folder if nothing arrives within a day or two. If the review team needs more information, or the report doesn’t meet the online criteria, they may send it back with instructions or contact you directly. Reports that aren’t completed are deleted automatically after 30 days.8City of Carrollton. File a Police Report
For phone calls, the dispatcher may send an officer out or take the report over the phone depending on what happened. Ask for your case number before you hang up. You’ll need it for insurance claims, follow-up calls, or to request a copy of the report later through the city’s records office.9City of Carrollton. Records Requests
Penalties for False Reports
Filing a false police report in Texas is a criminal offense. Knowingly making a false statement that’s material to a criminal investigation is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.10State of Texas. Texas Penal Code 37-08 – False Report to Peace Officer, Federal Special Investigator, Law Enforcement Employee, Corrections Officer, or Jailer Calling 911 when there’s no emergency and then staying silent or being abusive with the dispatcher is also a Class B misdemeanor, and the same charge applies if you let someone else use your phone to do it.11State of Texas. Texas Penal Code 42-061 – Silent or Abusive Calls to 9-1-1 Service Use the right line, and be straight with the dispatcher about what happened.