Identifying Suspicious Persons and Activities

What To Look For

• Someone screaming or shouting for help
• Unusual noises (breaking glass, pounding, gunshots)
• Property being taken out of student rooms or class rooms that are closed
• Expensive property being carried out of a building, especially at unusual hours
• Vehicle driving slowly, and aimlessly, back and forth on a street or in a parking lot
• Anyone being forced into a vehicle
• Someone running from a vehicle, building or area while carrying property, computers, furniture, luggage
• Any abandoned vehicles on campus
• Someone hanging around bike racks
• Someone looking into building windows or windows of parked vehicles, or trying to open them
• Any form of vandalism, such as spray painting a sign or building; graffiti; removing benches or signs; pulling up or removing plants and shrubbery
• Recently broken doors or windows
• A tense situation that’s about to blow up (fighting, threatening, verbally abusive behavior)
• Any emergency, such as an accident, a fire, a critically ill or injured person
• A person staggering about, appearing intoxicated, disoriented, or in need of medical attention
• Anything “unusual” for the area you are in

What To Do 

• Remain calm
• Keep away from the suspicious person(s) or activity
• Avoid taking any risks
• Notify the University Police immediately by using 9-1-1
• You can also use EyeWitness to notify USF Tampa Police if you feel that making a phone call may jeopardize your safety

What Not To Do

• Approach the suspicious person(s) or activity
• Try to apprehend or hold the suspect(s)
• Take any risks with your safety
• Delay reporting the incident unnecessarily

Reporting It To The Police

• Briefly describe the incident
• When did the incident happen?
• Where did the incident happen?
• Who was involved in the incident?
• Were there weapons involved?
• Where did the suspect(s) go?
• What kind of car, if any, was involved?

Describe the Suspect(s)

• Gender
• Race
• Age
• Height
• Weight
• Hair color
• Clothing
• Any distinctive characteristics (beard, mustache, scars, tattoos, or accents)

Describe the Vehicle

• Color
• Make
• Model
• Year
• License plate number
• Any special features (stickers, dents, or decals)

After Reporting

• Stay on the line with the dispatcher if he/she  requests
• Let the dispatcher know if there are any changes in the circumstances
• Stay in the area and meet with the officer if it is safe to do so
• Leave the area if you believe that you are in any danger