Recognize Suspicious Activity

Suspicious activities may be indicators of someone planning to commit a crime.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• Unusual items or situations: A vehicle is parked in an odd location, a package/luggage is unattended, a window/door is open that is usually closed, or other out-of-the-ordinary situations occur.
• Eliciting information: A person questions individuals at a level beyond curiosity about a building’s purpose, operations, security procedures and/or personnel, shift changes, etc.
• Observation/surveillance: Someone pays unusual attention to facilities or buildings beyond a casual or professional interest. This includes extended loitering without explanation (particularly in concealed locations); unusual, repeated, and/or prolonged observation of a building (e.g., with binoculars or video camera); taking notes or measurements; counting paces; sketching floor plans, etc.

How to Report

Public safety is everyone's responsibility. If you see something that just doesn’t seem right, report it to local law enforcement or a person of authority. Describe specifically what you observed, including:

• Who or what you saw;
• When you saw it;
• Where it occurred; and
• Why it's suspicious.

Let the San Antonio Police Department know. Call 9-1-1 or 210.207.SAPD.

Big Red Backpack

The giant, ten foot tall, big red backpack is a new public safety initiative in partnership with OEM, SAPD, and partners. SAOEM and SAPD hope that the big red backpack will highlight the nature of suspicious activities that community members need to report to authorities. Suspicious activity will never be as obvious as the Big Red Backpack, which is why it’s important to be aware of your surroundings.