Information for Businesses

​​The Ann Arbor Police Department's goal is to effectively and efficiently apply the resources to develop long-term solutions for criminal or quality of life concerns while building a stronger relationship in the business community. We use effective problem-solving strategies that educate property and business owners and work collaboratively using an asset-based community development approach.

• Keeping Your Tip Jar Safe: If your business utilizes a tip jar for its employees, we strongly
  encourage you to alter the jar to keep thieves from getting away with the tip money left by well meaning customers. We suggest that you remove the bottom of the container and let
  it sit on the counter without a bottom or attaching the tip jar directly to the counter. Either of these methods to safeguard your tip jar will leave would-be criminals empty handed.
• Panhandling Outside Businesses (PDF) - Panhandling is prohibited within the City of Ann Arbor under the circumstances outlined in Chapter 108 of the City Ordinance. 
• Aggressive Panhandling: There is no city ordinance for aggressive panhandling. To report aggressive panhandling, please call 911 or 734.994.2911.
• Solicitation: Except as otherwise provided in Chapters 79 and 81 of this Code, it shall be unlawful for any person to solicit the immediate payment of money or goods from another person, whether or not in exchange for goods, services, or other consideration, under any of the following circumstances:

1.On private property, except as otherwise permitted by Chapters 79 and 81, unless the solicitor has permission from the owner or occupant;

2.In any public transportation vehicle or public transportation facility;

3.In any public parking structure and within 12 feet of any entrance or exit to any public parking structure;

4.In any public alley and within 12 feet of any entrance or exit to any public alley, as that term is defined in Title I, Chapter 1, section 1:8 of the Ann Arbor City Code;

5.From a person who is in any vehicle on the street, except as otherwise allowed under the Michigan vehicle code, MCL 257.676b;

6.By obstructing the free passage of pedestrian or vehicle traffic;

7.Within 12 feet of a bank or automated teller machine;

8.By moving to within 2 feet of the person solicited, unless that person has indicated that he/she wishes to be solicited;

9.By following and continuing to solicit a person who walks away from the solicitor;

10.By knowingly making a false or misleading representation in the course of a solicitation;

11.In a manner that appears likely to cause a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities to feel intimidated, threatened or harassed;

12.Within 12 feet of the entrance to or exit from the Nickels Arcade, located between State Street and Maynard Street; the Galleria, located between S. University and the Forest Street parking structure; and the Pratt Building, located between Main Street and the Ashley parking lot; the Ann Arbor District Library, located at the corner of 5th Avenue and William Street; or

13.From a person who is a patron at any outdoor cafe or restaurant.

(Ord. No. 22-96, § 2, 8-5-96; Ord. No. 25-03, 7-7-03; Ord. No. 11-06, § 1, 4-19-11; Ord. No. 17-16, § 1, 9-18-17)

• Preventing Embezzlement​​ - Knowing your employees and maintaining integrity within your business is crucial to preventing embezzlement.

• Problem Customers - Customers can sometimes become problematic when they exhibit behavior that is inappropriate while inside a business. Typically this problem can be resolved by the owner or manager asking the person to refrain from returning to their store. If you have a problem customer who continues to visit the premises even after being asked not to, you may contact our Community Engagement Unit for help with this situation. If the person poses an immediate threat or refuses to leave when asked, call 911.

• Trespassing - A person is considered to be trespassing on a property after he/she has been forbidden to be at the property by the owner or occupant of the property. If you have given verbal notification to a person that they are no longer welcome on your property and they continue to enter your property our officers can read them trespass and serve them a trespass notice. The trespass notice prohibits the person from accessing your property and is kept on file with the AAPD. Should the person return to the property once they have been served a trespass notice that person is subject to misdemeanor charges under State law and immediate arrest.
• Community Engagement - If you would like an officer to speak or be present at your event, contact our Community Engagement Unit by emailing Susan Casey, scasey@a2gov.org​.