The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) has taken a step forward in bridging distance between citizens and law enforcement by broadening its Citizen Online Reporting system to cover more types of crime. Starting May 1, as detailed on MNPD official website, the program now includes retail scam, bicycle theft, and theft from residential yards. This expansion not only eases the reporting burden off residents but also helps police collect data efficiently on common yet less-violent crimes.

Caught in a con at the local mart? MNPD has your back without even leaving your crib. They've laid out what encompasses a retail scam: tricksters hustling money or merchandise via shifty means, be it bogus returns, switching price tags, or pulling fast ones with cash exchanges. Bike gone from the rack or patio pilfered? Those too, provided they were nicked from open spaces, can be reported through the same online platform. Just hit up the MNPD's website, select the right category, and even toss in those juicy stills from your home cams for good measure.

While this modern pet project surely injects convenience into an oft-tedious process, it's not a catch-all. When your particular brand of trouble doesn't fit any of the neatly labeled boxes online, MNPD's got a dial-in for that. Non-emergencies needing a human touch can buzz the Department of Emergency Communications at 615-862-8600. Naturally, for anything that has “emergency” stamped on it, 911 remains the go-to number.