Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities Related to Construction Sites
What Should I Consider Suspicious?
Behavior Indicators
- Removal or altering of survey stakes on a construction site.
- Anyone inquiring about security at a construction area.
- Surveillance of the site by unknown individuals.
- Environmental and/or antigovernment slogans, banners, or signs at the site or in the nearby area that threaten or imply violence.
- Group identifiers or warning signs left on the site.
- People entering a construction site after work hours.
- Warnings or threats sent to construction companies.
- Unscheduled deliveries of materials/equipment.
- Items found on-site that do not belong or are not a part of the site materials.
- Vandalism at similar sites.
- Thefts of hazardous materials.
- Evidence of intentional damage to cables, gas lines, and power lines.
- Vandalism at the site, including window breakage, slashed tires, spray-painting, sand/sugar in fuel tanks, cutting of fuel and brake lines, and/or glued locks.
- Arson at buildings under construction, work sheds, or any kind of equipment, including trucks, bulldozers, and cranes.
- Following a crime on-site, the discovery of discarded clothing, shoes/boots, tools, or spray-paint cans along roads and paths near the site.
Note: It is important to remember that just because someone’s speech, actions, beliefs, appearance, or way of life is different, it does not mean that he or she is suspicious.
What Should I Do?
Maintain Your Construction Sites
- Secure potentially dangerous or hazardous products.
- Clean the site regularly.
- Watch for people and actions that are out of place.
- Know what material and equipment should be on-site.
- Know what subcontractors and workers should be on-site.
- Do not leave the site unattended for long periods.
- Require all subcontractors to be licensed and insured.
If something seems wrong, notify law enforcement authorities. Do not jeopardize your safety or the safety of others.
Preventing terrorism is a community effort. By learning what to look for, you can make a positive contribution in the fight against terrorism.
The partnership between the community and law enforcement is essential to the success of anti-terrorism efforts. Some of the activities, taken individually, could be innocent and must be examined by law enforcement professionals in a larger context to determine whether there is a basis to investigate. The activities outlined on this handout are by no means all-inclusive but have been compiled from a review of terrorist events over several years.
Osceola County Sheriff's Office
407-348-2222
