Can French police be contacted from abroad in the case of a burglary?

Reader Question: I have security cameras in my second home in France, but what should I do if I see someone breaking in on the cameras while I am in the UK? What is the best way to contact emergency services from abroad?

Although you cannot call the 17 emergency number for the French police, it is possible to call the 112 emergency number. 

This pan-European number works in the UK – as well as in the EU and most other European countries – and the operator will be able to help and put you in touch with local services where you need them.

This is an emergency number and should only be used if you are certain that someone is breaking into your property, allowing arriving officers to catch someone in the act. 

Read more: 112, 15, 17: Do you know the emergency numbers to use in France?

If you notice the burglary after it happens, it may not be worth calling 112 as there will be little the police can do immediately, if the burglars have left.

If this is the case, you may wish to try the online service described on the link below, to log a complaint about the burglary online with the French authorities. 

Unfortunately, it appears that to submit the complaint on this new service officially requires a log-in with FranceConnect, which is only possible for people who have a French social security number. Once submitted, police will look into cases within 48 hours.

However, we note this site also includes a chat feature to exchange with an officer, which does not require any log-in. The latter can also be done at this dedicated link.

Read more: You can now report certain crimes anywhere in France using online tool

Finally, although it may be closed, you can still attempt to contact your local gendarmerie or police office via a direct line, if you can find one. 

Mairies sometimes have a page of useful numbers such as this. You may also be able to find this with an online search.

Even if it is late at night someone may answer or the call be directed to a nearby office. We recommend calling 112 first, however. 

Looking after your home while away

If you are concerned about your home being burgled whilst away, you can ask the local gendarmerie or police to conduct regular checks on the property. 

This is possible for second-home owners in some locations – only the gendarmerie, and not police, provide such a service.

Read more: Did you know French police can check your home when you are away?

Earlier this year, a reader wrote to us detailing their experience of having their second home burgled. 

They included an overview of their insurance claims process, which you can read below. 

Read more: Reader experiences: Dealing with a burglary at second home in France