Terrorist operations and criminal activity can begin with extensive planning. Rental housing units can be prime locations for terrorists or criminals to gather information and materials before launching an assigned mission.
You can help prevent and detect terrorism and other types of crime by watching out for suspicious activities in your apartment or condominium complex and reporting them to the proper authorities.
Many cities offer crime prevention seminars and programs for owners and residents of apartment and condominium complexes. Contact your local police department for more information.
Be Alert Activities that might indicate someone is using your apartment or condominium complex as a base for terrorist or criminal planning activities might include:
Renting accommodations using a false name
Reluctance to give personal and/or work information
Using a credit card registered in someone else’s name
Exhibits secretive and/or paranoid behavior about giving ID information
Presenting a questionable, fraudulent or recently issued driver’s license
Asking for a ground floor unit, which can facilitate escape, or requesting a specific view of bridges, airports, military or government installations
Choosing a secluded, less visible unit
Keeping shades drawn at all times
Replacing a rental unit’s locks and keys
Receiving frequent suspicious or unusual visitors
Following no established departure or return routine, such as a work schedule
Having little or no furniture
Refusing to allow staff to enter a unit or room
Acting paranoid or secretive
Having limited activity outside of the unit
Using pay phones or cell phones only, not a land-line phone
Traveling frequently
Having strange or suspicious items or documents in the unit
Making anti-American comments
Many of these activities, in and of themselves, may not indicate criminal activity. Taken together, however, they may be a cause for concern. If you observe people acting suspiciously, don’t hesitate to contact local law enforcement.
Protective Measures
Secure entrances (within fire department guidelines) to limit access
Use employee identification cards or badges
Screen contractors and temporary workers, and issue them temporary identification cards or passes
Create and maintain an emergency response plan
Test emergency lighting, and make repairs when necessary
Test elevator recall (fire service), fire alarm, and public address systems.