Michael R. Kent
Chief of Police
45 Center Street
Burlington, MA 01803
www.bpd.org
For Immediate Release
Friday, Dec. 1, 2017
Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Burlington Police Remind Residents to “See Something, Say Something” This Holiday Season
BURLINGTON – Chief Michael Kent and the Burlington Police Department, as part of its ongoing 12 days of holiday safety tips, encourage residents and business owners to remember to “See Something, Say Something” and protect their community by recognizing and reporting suspicious activity.
“With more people out and about this holiday season, we want everyone to remain vigilant and be mindful of suspicious activity of all kinds in their neighborhoods and throughout the community,” Chief Kent said. “If something seems suspicious or out of place, it’s worthwhile to report it and allow our officers to investigate.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, suspicious activity includes, but is not limited to:
- Unusual items or situations: A vehicle parked at an odd location, a package left unattended, a window or door left is open that is normally closed, any other out-of-the-ordinary situation.
- Eliciting information: If a person questions other individuals at a level that is beyond normal curiosity about a building’s purpose, operations, security procedures, personnel, shift changes, etc.
- Observation/surveillance: An individual who pays unusual attention to facilities or buildings beyond a casual or professional interest. This includes extended loitering without explanation (especially in concealed locations); unusual, repeated, and/or prolonged observation of a building (e.g. with binoculars or video camera), taking notes or measurements, counting paces, sketching floor plans, etc.
Many of these activities could be innocent, but police are ultimately responsible for determining whether the behavior should be investigated.
If you do see something suspicious, whether it’s in a residential neighborhood, downtown or in a high traffic business district such as 3rd Ave or the Burlington Mall, you should report it to the Burlington Police Department at 781-272-1212 and describe specifically what you observed, including:
- Who or what you saw
- When you saw it
- Where it occurred
- Why it’s suspicious
For information that does not require an immediate police response, but that you think should be reported, you may submit an anonymous tip online at www.anonymoustips.com/anon-tips/send-tip-law-enforcement/. Residents who wish to remain anonymous are also encouraged to report suspicious activity. Simply inform the dispatcher that you wish to remain anonymous when asked for your name.
The Burlington Police Department wants to make it very clear to the community that factors such as race, ethnicity and/or religious affiliation are not considered suspicious.
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