City of Frederick , Maryland
OPERATION SAFEGUARD
POOL
SUPPLY STORES
As described in the accompanying letter, Operation SAFEGUARD is based on the idea that certain legitimate businesses and industries may be unknowingly exploited by terrorists who portray themselves as honest customers seeking to purchase, lease or somehow appropriate certain material, licenses and/or services to covertly further a terrorist plot.
The following may be general indicators of potential terrorist planning or activities. Alone each indicator can result from legitimate recreational or commercial activities or criminal activity not related to terrorism; however, multiple indicators combined with other information can possibly suggest a terrorist threat.
- Physical surveillance, which may include note taking or the use of binoculars, cameras or maps near key facilities.
- Attempts to gain sensitive information regarding key facilities or personnel through personal contact or by telephone, mail or e-mail.
- Attempts to penetrate or test physical security and response procedures at key facilities.
- Attempts to improperly acquire explosives, weapons, ammunition, dangerous chemicals, flight manuals or other materials that could be used in a terrorist attack.
- Suspicious or improper attempts to acquire official vehicles, uniforms, badges, access cards or identification for key facilities.
- Presence of individuals who do not appear to belong in the workplace, business establishment or near a key facility.
- Behavior which appears to denote planning for terrorist activity, such as mapping out routes, playing out scenarios, monitoring key facilities and timing traffic flow or signals.
- Stockpiling suspicious materials or abandoning potential containers for explosives (e.g., vehicles or suitcases).
The following examples of activity relating to Pool Supply Stores, though not fully inclusive, may be of possible concern to law enforcement:
·
Customer
transactions involving the purchase of inordinate amounts of chlorine or any
other chemical.
·
Inquiries
to purchase chlorine, or some other chemical, during the off-season.
·
The
unexplained loss or theft of chlorine or any other chemical (regardless of
amount, i.e., pilfering, shoplifting) from your store’s inventory.
·
A
report of theft or unexplained loss of chlorine or any other chemical during
product shipment to your store by the supply manufacturer or trucking
company. Any unusual incidents reported
during the shipping of chemicals to your facility.
·
Unusual
inquiries by individuals regarding the storage of chlorine (or any other
chemical) and the handling of it.
·
Purchase
of chlorine or any other chemicals by someone who does not reside in the
customer service area typically associated with your store’s location and its
general clientele-demographics. For
example, the purchase of chlorine at one of your suburban stores by someone
whose residence is listed in an urban area where there are no pool facilities.
Your impressions and assessment based upon your professional business experience are extremely valuable and should help guide you in determining if a customer request, a fact pattern or set of circumstances is unusual. Please remember that the conduct itself does not have to be criminal per se for you to report it to the Frederick Police Department. We may be contacted 24-hours a day, seven days a week by calling:
301-600-2100
SGT Dennis K. Dudley
Planning Division
Frederick Police Department
301-600-1206 (Office)
301-600-2082 (FAX)