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Accurately Report: Characteristics and Descriptions

Your fifth responsibility in transportation security is to report suspicious activity. Reporting suspicious activity is key to preventing incidents.

Immediately report loss or theft of uniforms, badges, or identification cards. Report unidentified or unfamiliar person(s) in and around the facilities and vehicles and report all suspicious objects or packages. Accurately report your observations to the proper authorities.

In regard to people, the physical characteristics that most help authorities identify the person in question include the following:

Head and Neck

• Hair/facial hair: Color, length, texture, hairline, clean shaven
• Forehead: Skin texture, height
• Ears: Size, shape
• Eyes: Color, shape, eyelashes, eyebrows
• Nose: Size, Shape, Nostrils
• Cheeks/chin: Flesh texture, bone structure, shape, type (cleft, dimpled)
• Mouth: Size of lips, Shape
• Neck: Adam's apple, hanging jowls, length, width
• Complexion: Skin color, texture, pores, pock marks, acne, rashes, scars, birthmarks, bumps

Body

• Body shape/size: Height, weight, build
• Unique features like tattoos or piercings: Shape, size, color, location on body

Dress and Accessories

• General appearance: Neat, sloppy, clean, dirty
• Hat: Color, style, how it is worn
• Jewelry: Rings, watches, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, body piercing
• Shirt/blouse/dress: Color, pattern, design, sleeves, collar
• Coat: Color, style, length
• Pants/skirt: Color, pattern, design, length, cuffs
• Socks/shoes: Color, pattern, style, clean/dirty
• Accessories: Purses, brief cases, back packs, packages

It is a good idea to use referencing when describing people. For example, use yourself or non-changing objects in the area. "He was shorter than me, and I'm about 5' 9"." or "His height is about 1 foot shorter than the doorframe." or "Her hair color is the same as Jane's" or "His head came to the top of that sign in the parking lot."

When observing vehicles record:

• License/tag plate information (Note: When reporting letters on a license plate B, C, D, E, G, P, T & V may sound the same. Therefore, a license plate GDS 490 could be called in as "G as in Gold", D as in Dog, S as in Sara, 4, 9, zero.")
• Color/characteristics - signs, bumper stickers
• Manufacturer
• Location
• Rental/owned
• Make/model

If you discover a suspicious object, immediately notify proper personnel reporting the location and description of the object.

Real-World Example: Attempted car bombing of Times Square
At approximately 6:28 p.m.on May 1, 2010, a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder SUV rigged with a bomb entered Times Square. Two street vendors reported smoke coming from the vehicle to a mounted NYC Police Department officer who investigated and called for back-up. Read more.

Do NOT place your life in danger to gather information.

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