Report Suspicious Activity
Should you see or hear out-of-the-ordinary, strange, suspicious, or troubling activity, especially in your neighborhood and other locations known to you, report to a 911 dispatch operator or call a dedicated number of the Seattle Police Department (see below). Suspicious behavior and/or activity is behavior or activity that is not normal for your block, street, or neighborhood; the best way to know what is usual and normal for where you live or where you work is to establish friendly communications with your neighbors and/ or co-workers, business vendors, etc. Once you and the people with whom you routinely interact have a shared understanding of what's normal for your area, you may more easily understand what's not normal for your area: what is not normal activity in your area is what is suspicious activity in your area.
Report Suspicious Activity Such As:
It is far better to be safe than sorry: Immediately report criminal and suspicious activity with a phone call to 9-1-1; for non-emergency matters, contact SPD at 206.625.5011. Be clear and on-point when calling 9-1-1. The Seattle Police Department's Rena Martinez and Officer Sylvia Parker advise that when you call 9-1-1, you maintain focus and attention on "what is happening now, even if you are reporting a situation where there is a history of activity...The call taker is trying to determine the nature of the call and what resources need to be sent; he or she doesn't need you to relate the background story." For additional advice, see this site's tab "Reporting Crimes" and read the Seattle Police Department's webpage "Recognizing Suspicious Activity" (seattle.gov/police/contact/reporting/suspicious_activity.htm).
For additional information about what makes a behavior or action suspicious, read the information provided by the following link: http://www.detrick.army.mil/dptms/pdf/suspicious.pdf.
Report Suspicious Activity Such As:
- Loud and/or unusual noises such as screaming/yelling, gunshots, breaking glass, troubling dog barking
- A person wearing heavy clothes in warm weather, i.e., a long coat in 80 degree Fahrenheit weather
- A person attempting to shield his/her face or body by "hiding" in shadows or behind objects to avoid being clearly seen
- Stranger(s) wandering onto private property
- Stranger(s) waiting in front of a business or home when the home or businesses owners are away
- Stranger(s) going door-to-door or going to back and side doors while another person remains in the front of homes
- Stranger(s) pounding on multiple doors and/or shouting to be let into homes
- Stranger(s) looking into vehicles and/or going from vehicle to vehicle on a street or those parked in lots
- Stranger(s) running and looking furtively over their shoulders, as if being chased or watched
- Someone forcing entrance into a business, home, or vehicle
- Broken or open windows or doors at an unattended home or business
- Someone trying to sell goods for less than market value
- Property being taken to cars parked in front of a closed business or unattended home
- Person(s) quickly walking/running in and out of a home or business with items in their possession
- Persons exchanging money for items on the street, especially when such persons behave strangely
- Continuous traffic, on-foot or vehicular, which lasts for short amounts of time and comes and goes to the same location
- Person(s) who start conversations about drugs and/or offer to sell drugs; conversations overheard about this
- Finding drugs and/or drug paraphernalia (pipes, syringes, etc.) in an area
- Noxious/toxic/unusual odors coming from a car, building, or location
- Unusual changes to ventilation pipes, covered windows, or the presence of grow lights in a building
- Homes or buildings where extreme security measures have been taken (many attack dogs in yards, lots of cameras, etc.)
- In-progress drug sales and use--call 9-1-1 immediately, 24 hours a day
- In-progress and on-going drug activity can be reported to the SPD at 206.386.9180 or 206.625.5011, 24 hours a day
- Drug activity may also be reported to SPD's Narcotics Division at 206.684.5797, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm
- Slow-moving vehicles, particularly those driving at night without headlights and driving repeatedly in the same area
- Abandoned vehicles
- Person(s), especially kids or women, being forced into a vehicle
- Any objects being dumped or thrown from a vehicle, especially a fast-moving vehicle
- Seemingly abandoned buildings/houses where no upkeep (yard/lawn work, painting, etc.) is done
It is far better to be safe than sorry: Immediately report criminal and suspicious activity with a phone call to 9-1-1; for non-emergency matters, contact SPD at 206.625.5011. Be clear and on-point when calling 9-1-1. The Seattle Police Department's Rena Martinez and Officer Sylvia Parker advise that when you call 9-1-1, you maintain focus and attention on "what is happening now, even if you are reporting a situation where there is a history of activity...The call taker is trying to determine the nature of the call and what resources need to be sent; he or she doesn't need you to relate the background story." For additional advice, see this site's tab "Reporting Crimes" and read the Seattle Police Department's webpage "Recognizing Suspicious Activity" (seattle.gov/police/contact/reporting/suspicious_activity.htm).
For additional information about what makes a behavior or action suspicious, read the information provided by the following link: http://www.detrick.army.mil/dptms/pdf/suspicious.pdf.