What to do if You Find a Suspicious Package: Five Tips for Eye Witnesses

We live in a time when a heightened sense of security is required in our everyday lives, especially outside of our homes.  Too often we are distracted by personal electronic devices and we fail to recognize signs of danger around us.  We have grown complacent in our daily routines and are sometimes caught off guard by acts of violence by others.  

During these times of domestic and international political instability and unrest, we must remain vigilant and aware of our surroundings.  It is up to every American citizen to take note and report suspicious activity to authorities.  Many people are hesitant of reporting suspicious acts to police because they are fearful that they may be viewed as being racist.  It is important to remember that your report of a suspicious person or object may be the one that prevents a significant act of violence or terrorism. 

Some people simply do not know what to do or say if they see an object or person that appears to be engaging in activity that seems suspicious.  Below are a few basic tips on what to do if you observe a suspicious package in a public place.

• Don’t panic.  Recognize your fear but remain calm.  Do not cause a disturbance that could lead to public panic.

• Stay away from the package.  Don’t be the hero who has to determine if an unattended pack is         harmful.  Create as much distance as possible between you and the object.

• Call police.  Dial 911 immediately and report your observations to the police call-taker.  Take note of your exact location and landmarks and provide as detailed a description of the package as possible. 

• Be aware of your surroundings.  If the suspicious package is a legitimate explosive device, be aware that secondary devices may be nearby.  Terrorists will often place several explosives in close proximity of each other. 

• Remain available for follow up.  Provide your telephone number to the police call-taker and be available to provide further information if it is needed.  It is not necessary to close to the scene, but stay close to your phone in case an investigator calls.

These five tips may seem like common sense, but when the likelihood of terrorist activity is high and a suspicious package or person is seen in a public place, fear can dominate a person’s sense of reason.  By keeping these simple tips in mind, panic can be minimized and rapid information can be communicated to the appropriate authorities.