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What Should I Do?
Report what you find
unusual!
First call
the National Response Center at 877-24WATCH. For
immediate danger to life or property call 911, or call the Coast
Guard on Marine VHF-FM Channel 16.
NEVER approach
someone you fear may be about to commit an illegal act or crime.
Make some notes, such as the person's appearance, clothing, car
license plate, and the type of boat, vehicle or aircraft involved.
Take a picture if you can, but keep your distance if the situation
seems hostile.
Provide details:
Be specific in details
whenever you report something amiss to authorities. Generalized
descriptions and concerns (e.g., "That guy looks shifty to me...")
don't provide sufficient information and may not carry the
appropriate sense of urgency.
Details carry weight:
"I'm at the Safe
Haven Marina and just saw [something dangerous] loaded from a silver
SUV into a white Boston Whaler with the registration number
of CF1234YZ. I can't read the SUV's plate number, but I think it's
an out of state plate. The boat operator seems to be intimidated by
his passengers; and the passengers seem to be trying to keep out of
sight. I think something bad is about to happen."
Pay attention to
height, weight, gender, clothing, or other identifiable traits of
the people engaged in suspicious activity -- you may be asked for
this type of information.
How to Make a Proper
Description of a Person, Boat or Vehicle
Never
use race or religion as an indicator of suspicious activity, always
rely on the idea that what you are observing is like a puzzle and if
your instincts suspect suspicious activity, and you have observed a
person/groups actions that you can report to back up your instincts
and feelings, then you can report your observations using reliable
methods:
All reports should
contain the "5 Ws and an H" which means you should
be able to articulate a majority of the Who, What, Where,
When, Why, and How of what's going on. This will be the
line of questioning you can expect from law enforcement when
submitting a report. If you do not have a majority of these
questions covered, than articulate exactly what makes you feel
suspicious of a person, group, or situation when reporting.
Use C.Y.M.B.A.L.S.
CYMBALS is an
acronym that may help you remember descriptive information about
people, boats and vehicles.
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People |
Boats |
Vehicles |
Color
(hair, eyes, clothing, skin)
Year of birth, approximate age
Make (Race, Ethnicity)
Body (Body type, height, weight, build, etc)
Attire (Clothing description, dress, etc)
Looks (Hair, Scars, Tattoos, Facial hair, etc.)
Sex (Male, Female)
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Color
(Paint, markings, etc.)
Year (of manufacture)
Make (make and model of boat)
Body (Length, Runabout, Cruiser, Etc.)
Accessories: (Name, antennas, flags, pennants,
inboard or outboard, etc.)
License/Registration Number
State of registration |
Color
(Paint, markings, etc.)
Year (of manufacture)
Make (make and model of vehicle)
Body (Sedan, Truck, SUV, Van, 4-door, 2-door, Etc)
All Others (Dents, Bumper Stickers, Rims, Tinted
Glass, etc.)
License Plate Number
State of registration |
What Else Should I Do?
? Secure and lock your boat when not on
board. Take the keys. Disable the engine on stored or trailered
boats, and make sure the boat is not easily moved.
? If you manage a waterside facility where
employees such as dockmasters or attendants wear uniforms or safety
apparel with identifying logos, badges and/or nametags, make sure
the uniforms are stored in a relatively secure area -- safe from
theft by potential terrorists who may want to blend in by assuming a
false identity.
?
Display an
America's Waterway Watch decal/sticker prominently on a window
of your boat or at your place of business.
?
Marinas and other
waterfront businesses should display an AWW poster, and have
informational brochures and decals readily available for customers
who want to participate in the program. Publicizing that people
are watching for suspicious activity is a terrorism deterrent in and
of itself.
?
If you feel you
could use further information about AWW, or training on how to
identify suspicious activities or conditions, contact a Coast Guard
office in your vicinity or a Flotilla of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Formal training in a classroom setting can be arranged, and you may,
for example, want to set up a group training session for all of your
employees.
? Do not approach
or challenge anyone acting in a suspicious manner. Being vigilant
does not mean being a vigilante.
Instead, you
should report
suspicious activity or conditions by calling the National Response Center at
877-24WATCH. For immediate
danger to life or property call 911, or call the Coast Guard on
Marine VHF-FM Channel 16. Any follow-up action is best handled by
trained law enforcement professionals.
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To Report
Suspicious Activity:
Call
the National Response Center at
877-24WATCH
If There Is Immediate Danger to Life or
Property, Call 9-1-1 or Call the Coast Guard on
Marine Channel 16 |
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