Why police officers made me guess when crime happened by estimating when file police report?

Question

I made a crime report that was couple of months old.

When I write a crime report. Police man told me I have to make a good guess when cuz I couldn't remember exact date.

He asked me is it February like before valentine day. say think little after Valentine's day. He ask so is it begin or week or middle of week. I say think middle of week. At next he looked at calendar. He say so could be anywhere from Feb 18 to 20. I say not too sure which day. He say let say Feb 19 is your good guess so let put it down on statement. Police next ask is it morning or afternoon or night. I say I remember outside still light but it get dark not long afterward. He say ok say 4 pm is what I put down.

Why police want me put guess date even if I aren't too sure? I could be wrong by one day or by few hours.

Bruce · Accepted Answer

If they develop a suspect, the first thing they are going to do is ask where that person was at the time of the crime. If they are going to catch him lying, it is much easier to ask them where they were at a specific time than it is to ask them to account for three days. 
Unfortunately for you, if you gave them the wrong date and the suspect actually has an alibi for that time, you are out of luck.

? · Answer

For real? You couldn’t figure out by yourself to write “on or about February 19?” You couldn’t even figure it out with help?

Anonymous · Answer

Because it's very hard to investigate a crime if you don't know what day or time it occurred.

Anonymous · Answer

You have asked the Police man why you need to be making a good guess.

Tell them cuz you want to no.

They probably - like me - have no idea what you are talking about.

Matthew · Answer

When a criminal charges filed it reads something like this on or about the date of February 20th the accused did commit the following offense. The problem with not being able to come up with an exact time is the person that accused can make the excuse of alibi. in other words they can produce a couple of witnesses in a court of law that says the person was with me at that time and not committing a crime. it makes it much more difficult when you're in such a situation to make a charge stick

? · Answer

They need accurate information if they want to catch whoever did the crime in question

JJ · Answer

All criminal accusations include a date of the alleged crime, usually stated as "on or about"

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Why police officers made me guess when crime happened by estimating when file police report?

7 Answers