Property damage

File a complaint for property damage in Switzerland

A smashed window, a tagged wall, a ripped-out letterbox, a forced lock… These acts of damage, small or large, leave highly visible traces. And sometimes it is those one cannot see that weigh most: a sense of insecurity, anger, incomprehension.

Start my complaint
5-10 min to complete the form
29 CHF one-time payment
No travel to a police station
No account no password needed

A smashed window, a tagged wall, a ripped-out letterbox, a forced lock… These acts of damage, small or large, leave highly visible traces. And sometimes it is those one cannot see that weigh most: a sense of insecurity, anger, incomprehension.

Even without theft or a break-in, it is an attack on your personal or professional space. A nuisance that concerns you and deserves to be reported. Yet many hesitate to react : out of weariness, for fear that it will take too long, or because they think “it is not that serious”.

“It was nothing much” : and it still counts

Letterbox, lock, intercom

Ripped out, forced, vandalised. It is your access to mail and the door. Reporting it records the state of the place.

Glass, shopfront, cellar

A cracked or smashed pane, a shop window, a cellar window: even without theft, the harm is real.

Graffiti, façade, garden

A tagged wall, a dented gate, a broken light. It hits the neighbourhood’s sense of safety.

Why report property damage?

Damage, even minor, should not be trivialised. Whether graffiti on a wall, a destroyed letterbox or a forced lock, you are entitled to report what has been damaged. It is not a trivial personal loss: it is an attack on your peace of mind, your security, and sometimes your property.

Filing a complaint allows you:

  • to assert your rights with your insurer for possible refunds or works,
  • to have the damage officially recorded with the authorities,
  • to take part in local prevention by reporting vandalism or repeated behaviour.

Examples of damage covered

Property damage takes many forms, from an isolated act of vandalism to more significant degradation. Whether you are a private individual, a tenant, an owner or a trader, you can file a complaint if property belonging to you or placed under your responsibility has been damaged.

  • Broken glass (window, glass front, shop window)
  • Forced or damaged lock, even without a complete break-in
  • Tagged, soiled or deliberately damaged walls or façades
  • Destroyed, ripped-out or forced letterbox
  • Damaged gate, garage door or fence
  • Vandalised camera, doorbell or intercom
  • Damaged outdoor elements of a building or garden (furniture, lighting, shelters, etc.)

To describe the damage without getting lost

  • Which property was hit (glass, lock, wall, parked vehicle…)
  • When you noticed it : even an approximate date
  • Photos of the current state, if you can take them
  • Tenant, owner or shopkeeper: your link to the place
  • Home or liability insurance, if you may claim

Start my complaint

No need to wait for a “proper” burglary. Material damage, even isolated, deserves a structured statement.

How does it work?

1

Complete

I complete my complaint form online, calmly, at my own pace. I describe what happened and add the relevant information.

2

Print

Once finished, I receive the form by e-mail. I download it and print it so that I can sign it.

3

Send

I sign the document and send it by post to the competent authority, whose address appears on the form.

Our role, plainly

We guide you through a structured form. We do not replace the police: you print, sign and send the document to the authority indicated.

Processing the complaint remains the exclusive responsibility of the cantonal authorities.

Other situations

Pickpocketing

Theft (simple theft, pickpocketing or theft by trick)

Learn more

File a complaint now.

Have you been the victim of a theft or of damage? Do not leave the matter unresolved.

In a few minutes you can describe what happened and start a simple process without travelling. Your statement matters : for you, for others, and so that the facts are taken into account.

Start now : we guide you step by step.

Start my complaint

Frequently asked questions

What is property damage?
It is any deliberate degradation or deterioration of property, without there necessarily being theft or a break-in. It may concern:
  • A smashed window,
  • A tagged wall,
  • A ripped-out letterbox,
  • A forced lock,
  • A damaged fence,
  • A damaged business premises or façade.
Even if there was no break-in or theft, these acts are punishable and can be the subject of a complaint.
Can I file a complaint even if I did not see the offender?
Yes. You do not need to have seen or identified the person responsible in order to file a complaint. You simply need to describe the facts (damage observed, approximate date, place) as best you can.
Is it useful to file a complaint for minor damage?
Yes. Even an isolated or minor act (e.g. graffiti, a dented letterbox) deserves to be reported. It allows you:
  • to assert your rights with your insurer,
  • to inform the local authorities,
  • to help identify repeated behaviour (neighbourhood vandalism, targeted nuisance, repeated acts).
Can I declare damage that occurred in a building or a co-ownership?
Yes, if you are directly concerned (owner, tenant, representative of the co-ownership or the property manager). You can declare damage affecting a common or private part.
What if I do not know exactly when the damage occurred?
That is very common. Simply indicate the estimated date range (e.g. “between Saturday evening and Monday morning”). The authorities will be able to cross-check this information with any other complaints or reported facts in the same period.
Can I use ma-plainte.ch for this type of situation?
Yes. ma-plainte.ch lets you file a complaint for any property damage without violence, without a direct break-in, and without having to go in person to the police. The procedure is simple, 100% online, and valid throughout Switzerland.
Is it recognised by the police and accepted by insurers?
Yes. Once your complaint is completed, printed, signed and sent to the address indicated, it is forwarded to the competent authority like any ordinary complaint. It can be used in an insurance or legal file.
Should I repair the damage before or after filing a complaint?
It is recommended to take photos before any repair. You can file a complaint before or after the works, but in all cases keep visual evidence of the damage to support your statement.
How much does the ma-plainte.ch service cost?
The service costs 29 CHF, payable once. This includes:
  • The official complaint form,
  • Step-by-step assistance,
  • Sending of the document ready to sign by e-mail.

Valid in every canton

Canton of Zurich Canton of Bern Canton of Lucerne Canton of Uri Canton of Schwyz Canton of Obwalden Canton of Nidwalden Canton of Glarus Canton of Zug Canton of Fribourg Canton of Solothurn Canton of Basel-Stadt Canton of Basel-Landschaft Canton of Schaffhausen Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden Canton of St. Gallen Canton of Graubünden Canton of Aargau Canton of Thurgau Canton of Ticino Canton of Vaud Canton of Valais Canton of Neuchâtel Canton of Geneva Canton of Jura