3.7 Bomb Threat or Suspicious Activities

The following are essential procedures to follow if you receive a bomb threat or encounter any suspicious activity or object:

• Immediately report any bomb threat, suspicious activity, or suspicious object to your supervisor, and follow emergency instructions and procedures. The supervisor should contact authorities immediately. If Church Security staff members are on-site, they should also be contacted.

• If you receive a bomb threat by telephone, get as much of the following information as possible from the caller and from your observations, and write it down.

  From the caller, try to get the following information:

  • When will the bomb go off?

  • Where is the bomb?

  • What is the type and size of the bomb?

  • Why was it placed in the building?

  From your personal observation, add the following information:

  • What is the caller ID phone number, if available?

  • What are some characteristics of the caller’s voice?

  • How old do you think the caller is?

• If you observe a search or are told of a bomb threat, remain calm and wait for instructions.

• Do not touch or move suspicious objects.

• Do not use radios or cell phones for communicating.

• Wait for the police or other security personnel to conduct the search.