City of Frederick, Maryland
OPERATION SAFEGUARD
TRUCK AND VAN RENTALS
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 Truck and Van Rentals, though not fully inclusive, may be of possible concern to law enforcement:
- Customers who attempt to give vague
or unverifiable references or employment information on rental agreements,
who insist on paying in cash and/or who seem overly concerned about
privacy.
- An
attempt to lease or rent a vehicle based upon personal identification
documents of questionable authenticity (i.e., post office box listed as a
residential address).
- Refusal
of insurance without any explanation or reasoning.
- Attempts to expedite collection of
deposits made on rental vehicles reported as "stolen."
- Suspicious inquiries concerning
whether vehicles can be modified to handle heavier loads, create additional
storage areas or increase fuel capacity or vehicle speed.
- Suspicious inquiries concerning the
use of limousines by private drivers or a limousine’s exact length,
height, cargo access area, or interior volume.
- Reports of rental vehicles parked
for prolonged periods of time near sensitive facilities such as
government, military, utility or other high profile sites.
- Suspicious attempts to gain
employment at vehicle dealerships and/or rental agencies.
- Customers displaying burns or
chemical exposure symptoms who provide vague or illogical explanations as
to the circumstances surrounding the injuries.
- Returned rental vehicles with altered company logos or structural or appearance modifications.
· Inconsistencies in the reasons for renting the vehicle and/or refusal/nervousness when answering questions pertaining to the reason for rental.
· A rental request at an unusual time of day given the reason for the rental, (i.e., renting a truck at night for a moving job.)
· Renting a vehicle on several separate occasions as opposed to a long-term rental.
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)