Victim of Crime
Victim of Crime
What if a Crime Happens to You?
A man robbed Ying Yee’s store last night. He came in with a gun and took all her money. After the robber left, Ying Yee phoned the police. Two police officers came to the store. They asked her name, address, and phone number. They asked what had happened. Then they asked her to write down everything that the robber said and did. It was difficult for her to write this in English, so she wrote it in Chinese.
The police got it translated later.
Ying Yee was a victim of a crime. A victim is the person that the crime happened to. Ying Yee was the victim because it was her store and she lost her money. Ying Yee was also a witness because she was in the store when the robbery happened and she saw the robber.
Identification 
The police arrested a man. The police thought he was the man who robbed Ying Yee’s store. But the man said he did not do it. The police did not see him rob the store. Only Ying Yee saw the man who robbed the store. The police asked Ying Yee to come to the police station. At the police station, she looked at pictures of some men. All the men looked similar, but one was the man who robbed her. She was sure. She told the police that he was the robber.
Help for Victims and Witnesses
Sometimes a victim of a crime or an accident needs help or is very upset. In many areas, there are people called victim support workers who help victims. Many victim support workers speak other languages. They will help the victim.
Victim support workers also help you if you have witnessed a crime and you have to go to court. They explain what will happen and what you have to do. They may also go with you to court.
Victims can also call VictimLINK for support at 1-800-563-0808.