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

If you want 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. These can be various offenses.

You call the Internet guard via a central URL. The selection of the federal state responsible for processing is based on the location of the event. After selecting the form for reporting property crimes, you can provide basic information about yourself (e.g. Personal details, mobile 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 registration is accompanied by legal instructions (witness or accused information as well as criminal complaint requirement and notice of employment).

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 advertisement.

After submitting the notification, you will receive an e-mail with a transaction number and the contact details of the processing office.

The competent police department receives the complaint and examines it. If you file a complaint of a crime committed outside Germany or in another federal state, the prosecution authority will send the report to the competent authority.

Only if no investigative approaches are available will the investigation be discontinued by the public prosecutor's office. The chances of success differ depending on the type of crime. Basically, the more information you provide, the higher the chances that the police will find the perpetrator.

Anyone who knowingly and falsely suspects a person commits a crime. The law provides for a fine or imprisonment of up to five years.