“See Something, Say Something” has been a common theme since the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Four words to remind all of us of the power we all have in preventing crime. As the additional “eyes and ears” of law enforcement, citizens can help to reduce crime, improve safety and increase the quality of neighborhood life by reporting those things that are out of the ordinary, or out of place.
The recent bombings in Boston, makes me believe we need to adapt the theme from the Sept 2001 attacks and add one very important word. See something, say something, always. We all have to constantly remember to look for what is not normal. And when we see not normal, we need to report it. The bags placed on the side of the road near the finish line of the Boston Marathon are a great example of not normal and a reminder that there are those people in our society who want to do us harm. Being vigilant in looking and reporting suspicious activity will help to keep us all safe.
One of the cornerstones of Neighborhood Watch is the reporting of suspicious activities and individuals to the police. Over the years, citizen have stopped countless crimes and saved lives by becoming actively involved in protecting their communities through Neighborhood Watch or by just being an involved witness when crime strikes the neighborhood.
Now more than ever, with Neighborhood Watch’s new emphasis on both crime and terrorism, citizens are needed to come forward and provide valuable information. Remember: don’t be shy – your job is simply to report, and law enforcement will take your call seriously and check out the situation. What you see and report may be invaluable and may save lives.
Sometimes it can be confusing about what to report and when to report it.
What exactly is a “suspicious activity”?
Suspicious activities can refer to incidents, events, individuals or circumstances that seem unusual or out of place. Some common examples of suspicious activities include:
A stranger loitering in your neighborhood or a vehicle cruising the streets repeatedly; someone peering into cars or windows; a high volume of traffic going to and coming from a home on a daily basis; someone loitering around schools, parks or secluded areas; strange odors coming from a house or building; open or broken doors and windows at a closed business or unoccupied residence; someone tampering with electrical, gas or sewer systems without an identifiable company vehicle or uniform; sounds of breaking glass, gunshots, screaming or fighting; strangers removing license plates or loading valuables into vehicles from a residence even if the moving truck looks legitimate.
If you think that when seeing something and saying something doesn’t work, just ask the, currently unnamed woman, in Watertown Massachusetts, who, while thousands of Law Enforcement Officers were searching for the one remaining suspect in the Boston bombings, observed something suspicious. A boat cover moved in her yard, and what looked like blood. Her one call led officers to the location of the remaining suspect responsible for the bombings. Her seeing something and saying something prevented further injuries for citizens.
Remember…When you see something out of the ordinary, or not normal, say something….always.