Section 7. Managing People

Report Suspicious Activity

Farm families can help prevent crime and terrorist acts. Train Farm at sunrise

family members and employees to recognize and report suspicious individuals or abnormal activities, security breaches, suspicious materials or devices, and misplaced equipment.

According to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9, the Nation's agriculture and food systems meet the definition of a Critical Infrastructure – systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters.

Look for activities that could indicate criminal and/or terrorist planning:

Surveillance:
Has anyone been watching and noting farm or community activities using cameras, maps, binoculars, etc.?
Suspicious questions:
Has anyone tried to get information about farm operations or personnel in person, by phone, mail, e-mail, etc.?
Testing farm security:
Has anyone tried to break into farm buildings or facilities?
Obtaining Supplies:
Has anyone tried to obtain fertilizers, pesticides or other farm chemicals?
Suspicious persons:
Have you seen anyone hanging around who does not appear to belong in the area?
Dry runs:
Have you seen anyone doing things like mapping routes, practicing group maneuvers, monitoring traffic or other suspicious activities?
Stockpiles:
Have you found abandoned vehicles or found suspicious materials stockpiled on the farm? Have you found supplies, such as fertilizers, stored in areas where they are not normally stored?

Call 911 or local law enforcement authorities about suspicious activities before you try to rationalize what is happening. If something doesn’t “feel” right, report it.

Some states have a special center or hotline which gather reports of suspicious activity. Investigations often are run by the State Police.