City of Frederick , Maryland
OPERATION SAFEGUARD
BUS / CHARTER COMPANIES
As described in the accompanying letter, Operation SAFEGUARD is based on the idea that certain legitimate businesses, industries and locations 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 Bus and Charter Companies, though not fully inclusive, may be of possible concern to law enforcement:
- A customer’s reluctance to provide information on the locations and circumstances of the use of the bus.
- Inconsistencies in the reasons for renting the bus and/or refusal/nervousness when answering questions pertaining to the reason for rental.
- Suspicious behavior by an individual attempting to enter your establishment while wearing bulky clothing that appears inappropriate. May be compounded by the subject being alone or while acting excessively nervous and/or perspiring.
- An attempt to lease or rent a bus based upon personal identification documents of questionable authenticity (i.e., post office box listed as a residential address).
·
Specific
inquiries as to the specific dimensions and capabilities of a vehicle (i.e.,
height, gross weight, cargo area access via the cab, etc.).
·
Suspicious
inquiries as to the scheduled arrival and departure times into stations as well
as scheduled destinations.
·
Individual(s)
videotaping, photographing or sketching the buses for no apparent reason.
·
Suspicious
vehicles parked in proximity to an individual bus or collection of buses.
- Inquiries regarding the frequency of maintenance, time of security checks and security patrols, etc.
- Inquiries into the security surrounding the buses.
- Any apparent break-ins or tampering with any bus.
- The discovery of an unattended package or object inside or around any of the buses.
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)