Tough penalties for filing false reports

As if crime itself isn't bad enough, now authorities have to worry about people lying about it.Shreveport police have spent countless hours and manpower investigating crimes that never existed.Authorities say the problem seems to be getting worse these days."Listing from property crimes to robberies, to sexual assaults to thefts. We get quite a bit," said Det. Richard Turben with the Shreveport Police Department.The detective says so far this year, police have already arrested nearly a dozen people for filing false police reports.Police say there are number of reasons why people file false reports, from attempts to get money to covering up other crimes.However, filing a false police report doesn't come with just a slap on the wrist.If convicted of the misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief, a person can spend up to six months behind bars and pay up to $500 in fines.If convicted of the felony charge, a person can get up to five years behind bars and pay up to $5,000 dollars.