How to protect a business from break-ins in Detroit

Last updated October 30, 2026

What the city-wide numbers tell a business owner

The counters above come from official City of Detroit data. In 2025, Detroit police serviced 1,192 911 calls coded as business break-ins, and 1,004 in 2026 so far (through Oct 30, 2026). The 2025 total works out to about 3.3 calls a day city-wide, and about 70% of them were made while the break-in was in progress. That means the moments right after someone tries a door or a window are when detection and response count most. Remember that a 911 call is a report, not a confirmed crime, and that the vandalism counter covers every kind of property, not just businesses. More detail is on our Detroit break-in and vandalism statistics page.

Step 1: Look at your property the way an intruder would

Walk around the building after dark. Which doors are out of sight from the street? Where are the shadows? Is there a ladder, dumpster or low roof that gives access to a window? Can you see the register, safe or stock from outside? Write down the three weakest spots; those are where the next steps should go first.

Step 2: Harden the back and side doors

Rear and side doors are often the target because they are hidden. Solid-core or metal doors, a latch guard over the gap by the lock, long screws in the hinges and strike plates, and a secure bar on the inside of doors that are not used for customers all make forced entry slower and noisier. Keep roof hatches and basement windows on the same list.

Step 3: Light it and keep it visible

• Light every entrance, including the back and the alley side, with dusk-to-dawn fixtures.
• Use motion lights over parking and receiving areas.
• Leave a light on inside so the sales floor can be seen from the street.
• Keep windows clear of posters that block the view in, and trim shrubs below window height.

Step 4: Close the same way every night

A consistent closing routine catches the unlocked door before anyone else does. Walk the same route nightly, empty the register and leave the drawer open, move high-value stock out of sight, set the alarm and confirm it armed. When you can, close with two people and agree who checks in with whom once you are both in your cars. Our how-to guides below break this into short checklists.

Step 5: Detect, verify and respond

Because so many business break-in calls are made while the break-in is happening, detection and response speed matter. An alarm with door, motion and glass-break sensors detects the attempt. Cameras with alerts show what is going on. Someone then has to respond. Many owners cannot drive to the building at 3 a.m. every time an alarm trips, and should not walk in alone. That is the gap alarm response and verification fills: an officer goes to the site and reports back whether the building is secure.

Step 6: Add people when the risk calls for it

For sites with repeated problems, valuable stock, or a temporary risk such as a broken window or a holiday shutdown, people make the difference. Mobile patrols make scheduled, varied checks after hours. Security guards provide a constant presence. After a break-in, emergency board-ups secure the opening the same night.

Vandalism: small fixes, done fast

Graffiti, broken glass and damaged fixtures are easier to deal with when they are fixed quickly; a property that looks cared for tends to stay that way. Photograph damage before repairing it for police and insurance, report it, then repair or clean it as soon as you can. Cameras covering walls and windows from a protected position, and lighting on blank walls, help too.

Work with your neighbors

Swap contact information with the businesses next door, share what you see, and agree to call if a neighbor’s alarm is going off or a door is open. Small business districts that look out for each other notice problems sooner. For emergencies, always call 911; never confront anyone yourself.