Recognizing Suspicious Activity

This information about signs of suspicious activity comes from Dallas Police Department training materials. It is focused on what to be aware of while on a patrol, but it does provide all of us with some ideas we may not have thought about.

What is Suspicious Activity?

"Am I witnessing a crime?" Most of us have found ourselves wondering this at some time or other. However, because we are not really sure, we tend to hope it wasn't something bad and continue about our business. PEOPLE AREN'T SUSPICIOUS, BUT ACTIVITY MIGHT BE!
Here are some signs of suspicious activity:

• Unusual noises, including gunshots, screaming, sounds of fighting, barking dogs, or anything suggesting foul play, danger, or illegal activity.
• A person running would be suspicious if he or she were looking about furtively, as if he or she were being watched or chased.
• A stranger carrying property at an unusual hour or location, especially if the items are television sets, stereo equipment, office machinery, a locked bicycle, or lawn care equipment.
• A person going door-to-door in an office building or a residential area may be looking for an opportunity to steal.
• A stranger trying to gain entry into a residence, especially through a rear entrance, garage door, or window.
• Any person forcibly entering a locked vehicle, especially at night and in a driveway, is highly suspicious.
• Property in vehicles. This may not be suspicious unless the property is of an unusual nature: television sets, stereo equipment, lawn care equipment, or auto parts. Possible significance: could be stolen property.
• Transactions being conducted from vehicles, especially near schools or parks. You may be witnessing an illegal drug sale or sale of stolen property.
• One or more persons sitting in a parked car closely scanning the area around them may be lookouts for a burglary or robbery in progress, or for a crime being planned.
• Certain moving vehicles, such as vehicles moving slowly, running without lights, or one that keeps passing the same area. It could be casing a building or house to burglarize, someone pushing drugs, or someone planning another crime such as a robbery, kidnapping, or sex offense.
• A person (especially a juvenile or female) being forced into a vehicle may be a kidnapping.
• A person exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms may have been injured in an accident, be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medications, or otherwise need medical or psychiatric assistance.

You Can Protect People and Property

When you observe suspicious or criminal activity it should be reported by calling 9-1-1 as soon as you are able. Anything that seems slightly "out of place" or is happening at an unusual time of day might be criminal activity. Don't worry that you're bothering the police or about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove to be unfounded. Think about what might happen to people or property if you don't act.

Prevent Theft of Property From Vehicles

At the L Streets Summer Meeting on July 9, our Neighborhood Police Officer, Mitchell Gatson, asked that we be aware that theft of property from vehicles is the number one incident of crime reported in our area. Dallas Police Department reports for residences in the L Streets Neighborhood show that it happens more often than the total number of all other types of crime.

Take Action to Prevent Theft From Your Vehicle

Most times the property that is stolen is portable and not affixed to the vehicle. Everything from GPS, radar detectors, purses, laptops, briefcases, phones, money - you name it. Since most property that is stolen from a vehicle is portable, you can reduce the risk for a break-in and/or theft from your vehicle. Here's how:

• Take property with you or hide it in covered storage or in the trunk so it is not visible. Remember not to hide the property while parked in the area where you're going to leave the vehicle because a thief may be "casing" the area.
• For items with mounts and power cords (GPS units, radar detectors, phones etc.), remove the mounts and cords and hide them. Suction cup mounts often leave a ring on the window. Thieves look for this, and even if the GPS/Radar Detector (or whatever) isn't there, they'll break in and look around inside the vehicle. So, clean off those rings before leaving your vehicle.
• Remove and take or hide faceplates from custom audio/video units.
• Keep windows rolled up. Keeping windows open or partially open may help keep your vehicle cool in the summertime, but it's an invitation for thieves. Instead you can use a sunshade to block the sun and keep your vehicle interior cooler.
• Keep doors locked. Sure, someone can break the window and get inside, but if you've left nothing visible inside, there's little incentive to do so. If the vehicle is unlocked, however, a thief often will take a look inside.
• Utilize your vehicle alarm and other built-in theft prevention technology.
• Purchase and utilize locking devices for pickup truck tailgates and especially for custom rims on any vehicle.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Don't park in secluded areas.
• Park in well-lighted areas at night. Keep outdoor lighting at your home in functioning condition, especially lighting for driveways and other parking areas. If you are parking somewhere and it will be dark before you return to your vehicle, try to park near a light pole.
• Keep the inside of your your vehicle clutter free. Remove visible items - cash or coins, laptops, laptop cords, phone chargers, handbags, coffee cups, wallets, credit cards, cell phones, brief cases, golf clubs, tools, CDs, duffel bags, office equipment, mail, backpacks, sports equipment, file folders, dry cleaning, radar detectors, shopping bags, even empty boxes!
• Never leave your engine running and the vehicle unlocked/unattended. Every day in the summertime people run into their local dry cleaner, grocery store, or gas station for only a second, and they leave the engine running and the a/c on because they want to come back to a cool vehicle interior. Don't do it.

Call 9-1-1 as soon as you are able about all suspicious or criminal activity! These activities and types of behavior may indicate a potential vehicle burglary or auto theft:

• Looking inside vehicle windows or pulling on vehicle door handles, then looking to see if anyone is watching. This is highly suspicious activity in a residential neighborhood, but it is also unusual activity at any location.
• Bumping a vehicle to see if the vehicle has an alarm.
• Breaking a window or using tools to defeat the locking mechanisms to enter the vehicle.
• Taking items from a vehicle and loading them in another vehicle.

It's Vacation Time

Be observant and helpful by watching over neighbors' homes, especially when you know they are not home or they have let you know they going to be out of town. They will likely return the favor.

Call 9-1-1 to report all suspicious or criminal activity! Anything that seems slightly "out of place" or is happening at an unusual time of day might be criminal activity. Don't worry that you're bothering the police or about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove to be unfounded. Think about what might happen if you don't act.

Going Away on Vacation?

• Double check that doors and windows are securely locked.
• Let neighbors know you're going on vacation and when you will return. They can keep an eye out for anything suspicious. If you don't know your neighbors, you can have a trusted friend drop by occasionally to do the same thing. If a friend is dropping by you can give your neighbors a description of your friend and their vehicle to reduce false alarms.
• Make sure your home is well-lit so there are no hiding places.
• Use random timers to turn lights on and off to make it look like you're home.
• Install motion-sensing lights that turn on automatically when someone approaches.
• Don't leave spare keys on your property. Burglars know all the places you might think of.
• Put a hold on newspaper delivery until you return, and put a hold on your mail, too, so it doesn't pile up. Burglars look for such things as a sure sign someone is away from home.
• Look at your house from the street and make sure no valuables are in sight.
• Unplug your automatic garage door opener.
• Don't talk on social media about your trip before you return home.
• Remember to adjust your central air thermostat to an away setting. Also turn off tankless hot water heaters. A leaking hot water pipe will fill your home with steam and ruin more than just the floors. Yes, not crime tips, but easy to forget.

Summer Food Safety

Outdoor gatherings in summer months have added challenges to keeping food safe. High outdoor temperatures make it harder to prevent food-borne illness.

• Devise and use a way to wash hands. Wipes are good, but soap, water, and clean toweling are better.
• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Don't set cold foods out in direct sunlight. Keep grilled food warm by placing it to the side of the grill until serving.
• Food should not be left out for long periods of time. Use covers to prevent insects from getting on food. To avoid having too many leftovers sitting out, cook items such as hot dogs, brats, chicken, and other grilled foods in batches.
• Be sure to keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood separated from prepared and cooked foods. Most importantly keep it separate from fruits and vegetables that are going to be served raw.

About Calling 9-1-1

Call 9-1-1 as soon as you are able about all suspicious or criminal activity! Anything that seems slightly "out of place" or is happening at an unusual time could be criminal activity. Don't worry that you're bothering the police or about being embarrassed if your suspicions prove to be unfounded. Think about what might happen to people or property if you don't act.

Never place yourself in harm's way trying to get details about suspicious or criminal activity that you observe. Details can help police a lot, but it's very important that if you need to get to a safe place, you do that before you call.

If you're driving when you observe suspicious or criminal activity find a safe place to pull over and park to make your 9-1-1 call. Your call may be garbled or can disconnect if you're moving, and it's safer if you don't talk while driving.

When contacting 9-1-1 it's important for you to be able to articulate:

• Your location and phone number if calling from a cell/mobile phone.
• Who you observed (a description).
• What did you see? Be specific.
• Where was it?
• When did you see it?
• Why in your opinion was it suspicious? Remember, you are more aware of what's normal for our neighborhood than anyone else, but you need to be able to communicate that.

To describe a person, provide information on as many of the following as possible:

• Race, sex, and age.
• Height, weight, and hair color.
• Peculiarities like scars, tattoos, missing limbs - any noticeable features.
• Weapons, if any.
• Clothing description. Type, color, coat, hat, shoes...
• Method and direction of travel.

To describe a vehicle, try to provide:

• License plate of vehicle (most important).
• Year, make, and model of vehicle - at least the type of vehicle.
• Color of vehicle.
• Damage or outstanding features (one headlight, broken taillight, logos, special paint, special rims/tires, roof rack, antennae etc.)