Someone has broken into my business, but the offender is no longer there.

What should I do?

If you think the offender may still be nearby, or there is an immediate risk to anyone's safety:

Call 000 and move to a safe place.

If the offender has left and there is no immediate danger:

Report the break-in to Victoria Police.

You can report a non-urgent incident through Victoria Police's online reporting service or by calling the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

Before you clean up - if it is safe to do so:

• avoid touching or moving anything the offender may have touched

• take photographs of damage

• save relevant CCTV footage

• make a note of anything that appears to have been stolen or damaged.

You may also need to contact your insurer.

Your next step:

Immediate danger or offender still present → Call 000

Offender has left → Report to Victoria Police

👉 Report a crime online

☎️ Call Police Assistance Line – 131 444

Someone has shoplifted or stolen stock or other property from my business.

What should I do?

Do not put yourself, your staff or your customers at risk.

Do not physically confront or chase the person.

If the theft is happening now, the person is still on the premises and there is a risk to anyone's safety:

Call 000.

If the person has left and there is no immediate danger:

Report the theft to Victoria Police.

If you can do so safely, record:

• what was stolen

• the date and time

• a description of the person

• the direction they travelled

• vehicle details, including registration if known

• CCTV or other relevant footage

• details of any witnesses.

Your next step:

Immediate danger or incident happening now → Call 000

Person has left → Report the theft

👉 Report a retail theft online

☎️ Call Police Assistance Line – 131 444

My shopfront, windows, doors, signage, equipment or other property has been damaged or vandalised.

This could include:

• smashed windows or doors

• vandalism

• graffiti

• damage to outdoor displays or equipment

• other deliberate damage to your business or property.

What should I do?

If the damage is happening now, the person responsible is still there, or anyone is in danger:

Call 000.

If the incident has finished and there is no immediate danger:

Report the property damage to Victoria Police.

Take photographs of the damage and keep any relevant CCTV footage or other evidence.

You may also need to contact your insurer.

Your next step:

Immediate danger or incident happening now → Call 000

Incident has finished → Report the property damage

👉 Report a crime online

☎️ Call Police Assistance Line – 131 444

Someone is acting aggressively, unpredictably or in a way that is making people feel unsafe.

This might include someone who is:

• behaving aggressively towards staff or customers

• making threats

• acting violently or unpredictably

• causing concern for people's safety in or around your business

• behaving in a way that could escalate.

What should I do?

If anyone is in immediate danger, call 000.

Do not confront, follow or physically remove the person.

If you can do so safely, move yourself, your staff and customers away from the situation.

If there is no immediate danger but you are concerned about the person's behaviour, you can contact Victoria Police through the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

Your next step:

Immediate danger → Call 000

No immediate danger → Call 131 444

Someone has used violence, threatened violence or robbed your business, staff or customers.

This could include:

• a robbery or hold-up

• a threat of violence

• an assault

• a person using or threatening to use a weapon

• violence towards a staff member or customer.

What should I do?

Get to a safe place and call 000.

Do not confront, chase or attempt to detain the person.

If you can do so safely, tell police:

• what happened

• where the person went

• what they looked like

• what they were wearing

• whether they had a vehicle

• whether anyone was injured

• whether a weapon was involved.

If someone is injured, seek medical assistance.

After everyone is safe:

Preserve CCTV footage and other evidence and follow any instructions given by police.

Your next step:

Call 000

After an incident:

Write down what happened.

As soon as you can, record what you remember.

Useful information can include:

• date and time

• what happened

• descriptions of people involved

• vehicle details

• what was stolen or damaged

• photographs

• CCTV or other video footage

• names and contact details of witnesses.

Keep your CCTV footage. Even if you are not sure whether it will be useful, don't delete or overwrite it before you have reported the incident.

I've noticed something in the surrounding streets or public spaces that could affect safety, access or the appearance of our business precinct.

This could include:

• dumped rubbish or abandoned items

• graffiti or vandalism

• broken streetlights

• damaged footpaths, potholes or trip hazards

• overgrown vegetation blocking visibility

• damaged signs, public furniture or other street infrastructure.

What should I do?

For non-urgent issues like these, you can use Snap Send Solve to report the problem to Hobsons Bay City Council.

1. Snap
Take a photo of the issue, if it is safe to do so.

2. Send
Submit a report through the free Snap Send Solve app. Include the location and a short description of the problem.

3. Solve
Your report is sent to the relevant authority so it can be reviewed and actioned as appropriate.

Is it urgent or dangerous?

If the issue presents an immediate danger to people, don't rely on Snap Send Solve for an urgent response. Contact the appropriate emergency service or authority.

If a crime is happening now or someone is in immediate danger, call 000.

Your next step:

Report a non-urgent local safety or maintenance issue through Snap Send Solve.

Visit Snap Send Solve to download the app and follow the prompts.

Reporting issues in our streets and public spaces helps keep Hobsons Bay's business precincts safer, cleaner and more welcoming.