Hazards
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