Show property crime

Procedure

A report can be made or submitted online, in writing, by telephone or verbally.

If you wish to submit the advertisement online:

• The online submission of an advertisement takes place in several steps.
• You can file a criminal complaint via the Internet portal. This can involve various offenses.
• You call up the Internet watch via a central URL. The federal state responsible for processing is selected via the location of the incident. After selecting the form for reporting property crimes, you can enter basic information about yourself (e.g. personal details, cell phone number, e-mail address). You can then enter data on the crime scene, the time of the crime, the perpetrator and the event itself. The recording is accompanied by legal instructions (witness or accused person instructions as well as the requirement to file a criminal complaint and the notice of discontinuation).
• It is possible to submit documents such as proof of purchase, receipts and/or images such as screenshots, images of damage or stolen items with the report.
• Once the report has been submitted and accepted, you will receive an e-mail with a case number and the contact details of the Bremen police.
• The relevant police department will accept the report and check it. If you report a criminal offense that was committed outside Germany or in another federal state, the prosecuting authority will forward the report to the competent authority.
• Only if there are no grounds for investigation will the investigation be closed by the public prosecutor's office. The chances of success vary depending on the type of offense. Basically, the more information you provide, the higher the chances of the police finding the perpetrator.
• Anyone who knowingly and falsely suspects a person is committing a criminal offense. The law provides for a fine or a prison sentence of up to five years.

If you wish to make your report in person on site:

• You can report a crime in person at the following locations during the following opening hours:
  • Vegesack police station
    Kirchheide 51
    28757 Bremen
    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday and Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Bremen Police Headquarters
    In der Vahr 76
    28329 Bremen
    Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • City center police station (next to the main train station)
    Beim Handelsmuseum 1
    28195 Bremen
    Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• To avoid waiting times, we recommend that you make an appointment online in advance via the online appointment system.

If you wish to place your advertisement by telephone:

• You can reach the telephone ad intake service on 0421 362-12700.
  
  • Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: 9 am to 5 pm

Legal bases

• § 158 Strafprozeßordnung (StPO)

More information

If you file a complaint, you are generally a witness in the criminal proceedings. It may be necessary to summon you to the relevant police station as part of the further processing of your complaint, for example in order to be able to interview you personally as a witness.

Anyone who is aware of a criminal offense but does not report it may be liable to prosecution. No special formal requirements apply. Caution is advised when it is a suspected criminal offense. Defamation and false accusations are punishable by law, and the person who makes the report must expect legal action to be taken against them. Crimes such as murder, robbery, war crimes and treason must be reported.

A criminal complaint cannot be withdrawn. You should therefore think carefully about whether you want to press charges. According to the principle of legality, the authorities are then obliged to investigate.