Signs of Suspicious Activity

What is Suspicious Activity?

Suspicious activity is any observed behavior that may indicate pre-operational planning associated with terrorism or terrorism-related crime. With the help of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has identified common signs of terrorism-related suspicious activity. Some activities could be innocent, but trained law enforcement officials can determine whether the behavior warrants further action.

Remember: Factors such as race, ethnicity, sex, national origin, religion, or disability are not suspicious. A cornerstone of the DHS mission is ensuring that people’s civil rights and civil liberties are not diminished by our security efforts, activities, and programs. As such, the DHS “If You See Something, Say Something®” campaign encourages the public to report only suspicious behavior and situations (e.g., someone breaking into a restricted area), rather than one’s appearance, to authorities.

Signs of Suspicious Activity

Express or Implied Threat
Communicating a spoken or written threat to commit a crime that could harm or kill people or damage a facility, infrastructure, or secured site.

Observation/Surveillance
A prolonged or unusual interest in facilities, buildings, or infrastructure beyond casual or professional interest.

Photography
Taking pictures or videos of persons, facilities, buildings, or infrastructure in a covert manner, such as photos or video of security related equipment or personnel, infrequently used access points, or structure of a building.

Theft/Loss/Diversion
Stealing or diverting items—such as equipment, uniforms, or badges—that belong to a facility or secured site.

Testing or Probing of Security
Challenging or testing a facility's security or IT systems to assess the strength or weakness of the target.

Aviation Activity
Operating or interfering with the operation of an aircraft that poses a threat of harm to people and property.

Breach/Attempted Intrusion
Unauthorized people trying to enter a restricted area or impersonating authorized personnel.

Misrepresentation
Presenting false information or misusing documents to conceal possible illegal activity.

Eliciting Information
Questioning personnel beyond mere curiosity about an event, facility, or operations.

Acquisition of Expertise
Gaining skills or knowledge on a specific topic, such as facility security, military tactics, or flying an aircraft.

Cyberattack
Disrupting or compromising an organization’s information technology systems.

Recruiting/Financing
Funding suspicious or criminal activity or recruiting people to participate in criminal or terrorist activity.

Sabotage/Tampering/Vandalism
Damaging or destroying part of a facility, infrastructure, or secured site.

Materials Acquisition/Storage
Acquisition and/or storage of unusual materials such as cell phones, radio controllers, or toxic materials.

Weapons Collection/Storage
Collection or discovery of unusual amounts of weapons including explosives, chemicals, or other destructive materials.

Sector-Specific Incident
Actions which raise concern to specific sectors (e.g., power plant) with regard to their personnel, facilities, systems, or functions.

• Every resident plays an important role in preventing crimes, acts of violence, and terrorism by paying close attention to their environment.
• If you see something suspicious, like an object that does not belong or an individual behaving oddly, immediately notify law enforcement authorities.
• Remain vigilant of your environment by paying close attention to where you are and knowing how you would react if something happened.
• While entering buildings and moving around a facility, remember where you are located, what floor you are on, and where the nearest emergency exit is, including stairwells.
• Be on the lookout for indicators of suspicious activity. Immediately notify law enforcement if you witness something suspicious or out of place.

Reporting Suspicious Activity in Michigan

• If you notice any activity or behavior that seems suspicious or out of place, you should immediately notify law enforcement officials.
• For emergencies: Dial 9-1-1
• For non-emergencies, submit an anonymous tip:
  • Phone: 855-MICHTIP (855-642-4847)
  • Online: www.michigan.gov/michtip