See Something, Say Something Awareness
See Something, Say Something Awareness Day is September 25 this year. Created by the US Department of Homeland Security, the #SeeSayDay Campaign reminds all of us to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and to report it to law enforcement. Originally launched to determine and report terrorist-type activity, the idea behind it can also be used locally for any kind of dangerous behavior in your area.
Recognize the Signs
The ability to notice suspicious activity is the first step in “Seeing Something.” Some behaviors to note include:
- threatening harm to someone or damage a structure or facility, implied or outright expressed
- surveillance activity
- attempting to enter a secure location
- weapons collection
- materials acquisition
- recruiting others or financing criminal or questionable activities.
For more locally based threats, behaviors to note may look like loitering or asking detailed questions of strangers. Someone might try to impersonate an official or abruptly change behavior when noticed. Anyone looking into parked cars or peering through windows may be up to no good. If something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts and let someone know.
Report Suspicious Activity
The next step is to “Say Something.” For terrorist-type activities, the DHS and its partners want to make sure citizens make note of their local reporting number that should be used when anything “off” is noticed in the area. Try to remember the Who, What, When and Where details of the actions you noticed. The more detail you provide, the easier it is for law enforcement to determine if it’s a valid concern and what they should do about it. For localized threats, make sure to keep your local law enforcement phone numbers handy, whether it is the city police, county sheriff or the constable.
We’re All In This Together
Even though we are not all trained law enforcement or military officials, any of us can help keep our communities safer. We do this by noticing when things don’t seem right, and reporting this information to the appropriate authority. We can all be part of the See Something, Say Something Awareness Day this September 25th.
Cultris Security can help keep you and your family safe. Contact us at 281-506-8466 or visit us online – we’re here to help!
