### No Need to Wait 72 Hours to Report a Missing Person: State Attorney’s Office
**Tijuana – August 20, 2024**
According to Alejandro López Reyes, Special Units Prosecutor of the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), it’s unnecessary to wait 72 hours to report a missing person. “Families have mentioned that they were told to wait 72 hours before filing a report. That is completely false. We accept reports as soon as the family knows that their loved one cannot be located,” López Reyes explained.
The prosecutor also revealed that the FGE receives between 5 and 6 missing persons reports daily in Tijuana. He emphasized that families should file their reports directly with the FGE, even though they often go to the Municipal Police first. “Reports must be filed directly with the FGE. This can also be done electronically, where an officer and commander will coordinate via phone to gather maximum information,” he added.
López Reyes further elaborated that any time a family member cannot be located, it is immediately considered a disappearance, and a report should be made to the FGE without delay. “The first thing we need is a recent, clear photograph because sometimes they come in with hats or dark glasses,” he noted.
Increasingly, reports of missing youths and adolescents are being filed, which is often due to them running away from home. “There isn’t a standard; we could say many are cases of individuals leaving home and being found the next day or a few taking a plane or taxi to leave,” he said.
Weeks ago, Angélica Ramírez, coordinator of the collective “Una Nación Buscando T,” pointed out a significant rise in the number of disappearances among individuals aged 15 to 25. “We’re seeing a 50% increase in young people’s disappearances. There’s no control, with five to ten new disappearances reported daily. Even with 50 more collectives, disappearances would outpace us,” she detailed.
### Other News on Missing Persons Reports
**Tijuana – Additional Context**
In recent events, the State Attorney General’s Office rejected claims of an increase in kidnappings in Baja California. This statement comes amidst growing concerns about overall safety and the spike in missing persons reports.
For instance, organizations and search collectives have reported finding more than 100 bodies in Baja California in 2024 alone. This grim statistic underscores the urgency for families and authorities to take immediate action in potential disappearance cases.
As of now, the FGE remains steadfast in its commitment to address and investigate every report. They are urging families to provide clear, recent photos of missing persons and use all available channels to report disappearances, reinforcing that they do not need to wait, not even 72 hours, to act.
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