Safety Tips

This manual brings together some best practices on how to act when faced with strange noises or suspicious behavior near your business or on your street.

1. Prioritize your safety

In any situation of doubt, always remember:

• Do not put yourself at risk: do not go outside or approach the source of the noise if it is not safe to do so.
• Observe only if it is safe: look from inside your premises, through a window, or from a safe distance.
• Do not confront suspicious people: your role is to alert, not to intervene directly.

2. What to do if you hear strange noises

These could be banging, breaking glass, attempts to force shutters, loud arguments, or unusual movements in the early morning hours. In these cases:

• Pause and try to identify:
  • The origin of the noise (street, building entrance, neighboring store).
  • Whether it is an isolated event or ongoing over time.
  • If the noise sounds like hard knocks, breaking glass, or forced metals.
• If possible and safe, observe from inside:
  • Approximate number of people.
  • General appearance (clothing, height, whether wearing helmets, etc.).
  • Direction in which they are moving.
  • Presence of a vehicle, type (motorcycle, car, van), and color.

3. When and how to notify authorities

In any situation that seems suspicious or out of the ordinary:

• If you believe a crime is occurring (storefront breakage, attempted robbery, assault, etc.):
  • Call 112 (emergencies) immediately.

When reporting, always provide the following, if possible:

• Exact address or a clear reference point.
• What you are seeing or hearing (for example: “it seems they are forcing a shutter, I hear metallic noises”).
• Number of people involved, if you know it.
• General description (clothes, helmet, backpack, vehicle).
• Direction of escape, if they have fled (example: “they went towards X street”).

4. If you see a damaged storefront or shutter

You may arrive at your business or be walking by and notice a broken storefront or forced shutter. In that case:

• Do not touch anything or try to move glass or objects.
• If the store is closed, try to locate the affected business:
  • By contacting the phone number displayed on the storefront, if available.
  • By consulting with neighboring businesses.
• If you cannot contact the store owner, inform the authorities so they can check the situation.
• If it is safe and you are not obstructing the area, you may take a photograph to send:
  • To the police, if they request it.
  • To the affected business, once you find them.

5. Best practices for businesses

Beyond the reaction to incidents, prevention is essential. Some recommendations:

• Check locks and shutters at the end of each day.
• Do not leave high-value items visible in the storefront, if your business allows it.
• Install, if possible:
  • Alarm systems or vibration/glass break sensors.
  • Cameras aimed at the entrance and facade.
• Maintain good lighting at entrances and surrounding areas.
• Coordinate with other businesses in the area:
  • Set up a quick messaging group or channel of communication.
  • Report minor incidents (without causing alarm), for example: “They tried to force X's shutter last night, please stay alert.”

6. Responsible communication: inform without alarming

Sharing information is important, but so is avoiding rumors or exaggerations. Recommendations:

• Share only verified facts or information from reliable sources.
• Avoid alarmist messages in public forums.
• If you have photos or videos, do not share them on social media without caution:
  • They may hinder investigations.
  • They may harm the image of the affected business or area.
• If in doubt, consult with authorities or the merchants' association.

7. After an incident

If your business falls victim to theft or vandalism:

• Always file a report, regardless of the extent of the damage.
• Write down all the details you remember:
  • Approximate time.
  • Observations about what you saw or heard.
  • Description of people or vehicles involved.
• Keep security camera recordings:
  • Do not delete or overwrite records from the hours around the incident.
• Contact your insurance company as soon as possible and gather the documentation they request.
• Inform:
  • The merchants' association, if you are a member.
  • Neighboring businesses, calmly and objectively, so they can take precautions.

8. For a safer environment, together

Safety does not depend exclusively on technology or police presence: it is also built through attention, shared responsibility, and good coordination.

Detecting unusual noises, behaviors that seem out of place, or damage to storefronts should not cause panic, but rather a calm and effective response: observe, notify, and share information responsibly.

Between businesses, the neighborhood, and authorities, it is possible to keep the area a safe and pleasant place for those who live, work, and walk its streets.