Suspicious Activity

Juveniles

  • Loitering in neighborhoods they are not from.
  • Especially if in violation of curfew.
  • Curfew hours
    • 12:01 am on any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday until 6 am of that same day
    • 1:01 am until 6 am on any Saturday or Sunday
    • 9 am until 3 pm on any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on days that the school in which the minor is enrolled is in session unless the minor has school permission to be off-campus

Vehicles

  • Slow moving vehicles, vehicles without lights, and/or the course followed appears aimless or repetitive.
  • This is suspicious in any location, but particularly in areas of schools, parks, or playgrounds.
    Could possibly be a newspaper delivery person - If so, please don’t call!
  • Vehicles being loaded with valuables are suspicious if parked in front of a closed business or untended residence. This is true even if the vehicle is a legitimate looking commercial unit. (Repair vehicle, moving van, etc.)
  • Abandoned vehicles in strange places. (Fields, parking lots, etc.)
  • Certain parked and occupied vehicles. May contain one or more persons, especially significant if observed at an unusual hour. True, even if occupants appear to be lovers.

Suspicious Behavior Involving Vehicles

  • Persons looking into windows of parked vehicles.
  • Persons pulling door handles on parked vehicles.
  • Persons attempting forcibly to enter a locked vehicle, especially at night or in a parking lot.
  • Persons detaching mechanical parts or accessories from a vehicle especially at night or in a parking lot.
  • Apparent business transactions conducted from a vehicle especially if around schools or parks, and if juveniles are involved.
  • Persons being forced into vehicles, especially if juveniles or females.

Suspicious Behavior Involving Property

  • Property carried by persons on foot. Especially questionable if the person is running.
  • Property being removed from or being placed into vehicles or buildings if removed from closed residences whose owners are known to be absent.
  • Someone offers to sell you something for significantly less than the market value.
  • Items that accumulate in private garages, storage areas, or on property if it accumulates, especially if the items are in good condition but not in use. (Several televisions being stored in a garage for a long period of time.)

Suspicious Behavior Involving Homes or Businesses

  • Someone going door-to-door in a residential area if after a few houses are visited, one or more of the subjects goes into a back or side yard
  • Someone waiting in front of a house or business when the owners are absent, or if it is a business and the establishment is closed.
  • Someone forcing entrance to or tampering with a residence or business.
  • A non-resident going into a back or side yard.

Other Suspicious Behavior

  • Continuous "Repair" operations at a non-business location.
  • Continuous traffic that comes and goes to the same location, usually staying for very short periods of time.
  • Open or broken windows at closed businesses or residences whose owners are temporarily absent.
  • Unusual noises such as gunshots, screaming, abnormally barking dogs, breaking glass, or any noise that is suggestive of foul play.
  • Unusual smells coming from a location.

Helpful Resources

These are just a few examples of some suspicious activity that could occur in your presence. There is no way to completely define all suspicious activity. The most important thing to remember is that you use your instinct. If something doesn’t look or feel right, it’s better to err on the side of caution and make the call. You have the ability to potentially stop a crime in progress if you learn to follow that instinct.

For more information, Email the Crime Prevention Unit or call 361-485-3808.