How To Recognize Suspicious Persons, Vehicles & Activity
Content of this Brochure provided courtesy of El Segundo Police Department, Crime Prevention Unit, 348 Main Street, El Segundo, CA 90245
No police department can function effectively without the concerned assistance of its citizens. We depend on you to call and tell us whenever you observe suspicious persons or actions.
Some people fail to call the police simply because they are not aware of what might be suspicious. Others may notice suspicious activity, but hesitate to call for fear of seeming like a “nosey neighbor”. Still others take it for granted that someone else has already called.
As citizens of Redondo Beach, you act as extra eyes and ears for the police department. When you feel something isn't right or looks out of place, CALL (310) 379‐5411 (RBPD Dispatch). We are happy to respond to any situation which makes you feel uneasy.
What Is Suspicious?
Anything that seems even slightly “out of place” for the area or the time of day during which it occurs may mean criminal activity.
- A stranger entering your neighbor’s house when it is unoccupied may be a burglary.
- Screaming heard anywhere might be a robbery or sexual assault.
- Offers of merchandise at ridiculously low prices could mean stolen property.
- Anyone removing accessories, license plates, or gasoline from a car could mean theft.
- Anyone peering into parked cars may be looking for a car to steal or for valuables left in sight.
- Persons entering or leaving a business after hours could mean burglary.
- The sound of breaking glass or other loud explosive noises could mean an accident, burglary or vandalism.
- Persons loitering around schools, parks, secluded areas, parking lots, or around the neighborhood could mean burglary or robbery, or could be a sex offender.
- Persons around the neighborhood who do not live there could be burglars.
- Persons leaving one car and driving off in another could be a robbery, burglary or auto theft.
- Persons involved in a fight could be a robbery or assault.
- Salesmen attempting to force entrance into your home could be a robbery or a sex offender.
- A stranger in a car stopping to beckon a child, or, a child resisting the advances of an adult.
- Your child acting strangely or coming home with new possessions may mean they are involved in petty theft, narcotics, or was a victim of molestation.
Not So Obvious Things To Watch For
Not every stranger who comes into your neighborhood is a criminal. There are many perfectly legitimate salesmen, repairmen, or servicemen moving around the city daily. But criminals do take advantage of this by assuming the guise of legitimate business people. After all, if a criminal looked like a criminal, no one would have any trouble spotting them.
Situations Involving People You Might See and What Their Actions Might Mean
- Someone is going door‐to‐door in your neighborhood (maybe looking in windows too). Watch for a while. If, after a few houses are visited, one or more of the persons tries a door to see if it is locked, or goes into a back or side yard, it could be a burglar. Such action is even more suspicious if one person remains in the front when this occurs or if there is a car following a few houses away.
- Someone waiting in front of a house or business becomes suspect if the owners are absent, or if the business is closed. This might be a lookout for a burglary in progress inside.
- Anyone forcing entrance into, or tampering with a residence, business, or vehicle is suspicious anytime, anywhere.
- A person running from a car, residence or business, especially if carrying something of value, could be fleeing the scene of a crime.
- Property carried by someone on foot at an unusual hour or place.
- A person exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms may be injured, under the influence of
drugs/alcohol or otherwise needing medical or psychiatric assistance.
- Much human traffic to and from a certain residence is not suspicious unless it occurs on a daily
or very regular basis, especially during late or unusual hours. It could possibly be the scene of vice activities or a "fence" operation.
Things To Watch For Involving Vehicles
- Any vehicle moving slowly and without lights, or following a course that appears aimless or repetitive, is suspicious in any location but particularly so in areas of schools, parks, and playgrounds. Occupants may be "casing" for places to rob or burglarize, or they could possibly be drug pushers or sex offenders.
- Parked, occupied vehicles containing one or more persons are especially significant if observed at an unusual hour. They could be possible lookouts for a burglary in progress, even if the occupants appear to be lovers.
- A vehicle being loaded with valuables is suspicious if parked in front of a closed business or unattended residence ‐ even if the vehicle is a legitimate looking commercial unit. More and more professional thieves are taking the time and trouble to “customize” their vehicles with special decals in order to move more freely without suspicion.
- Apparent business transactions conducted from a vehicle, especially around schools, or parks, and if juveniles are involved, could mean possible drug sales or stolen merchandise.
- Persons being forced into vehicles ‐ especially juveniles or females ‐ may mean a possible kidnapping.
- An abandoned vehicle parked on your block may be a stolen car.
- Any vehicle moving slowly and without lights, or following a course that appears aimless or repetitive, is suspicious in any location but particularly so in areas of schools, parks, and playgrounds. Occupants may be "casing" for places to rob or burglarize, or they could possibly be drug pushers or sex offenders.
Other Unusual Situations You Should Report
- Continuous “repair” operations at a non‐business location could mean stolen property being stripped, repainted, and otherwise altered.
- Open or broken doors or windows at a closed business or residence whose owners are absent could mean a burglary in progress or already completed.
- Unusual noises such as gunshots, screaming, sounds of combat, dogs barking abnormally ‐ anything suggestive of foul play, danger, or illegal activity should be reported.
- Persons seen entering or leaving a business after hours could be a burglary.
While some, if not all, of the suspicious situations described could have innocent explanations, the Redondo Beach Police Department would rather investigate a crime‐prone situation than be called when it's too late. If you see this activity or anything else that seems suspicious, call (310) 379‐5411 immediately.
WHAT THE POLICE NEED TO KNOW
- What happened?
- When did it happen?
- Where did it happen?
- Is anyone injured?
- Vehicle license number, vehicle description, direction of flight.
- Description of suspicious person(s) and any weapons involved.
Your call could save a life, prevent an injury, or stop a criminal act.
REDONDO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY SERVICES UNIT
401 Diamond Street, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (310) 379‐2477
- What happened?