Bomb Threats & Suspicious Letters

Overview

• Bomb threats are usually reported via telephone.
• If you receive a bomb threat over the phone, please immediately report it to campus police from a telephone different than the one on which you received the threat.
• If you receive a bomb threat in another form, please immediately call campus police.

How to Report a Bomb Threat

• Call Campus Police at 209-228-2677 (CAT-COPS) from a cell phone.
• Call 9-911 from a campus phone.

If a Bomb Threat is Received by Telephone:

• Ask questions (see list below).
• Do not search for the explosive device.
• Do not touch any unusual or suspicious objects.
• Take the caller seriously.
• Complete the bomb threat reporting form.
• Take notes on everything said and heard, including background noise, voice characteristics, etc.
• Keep the caller on the line as long as possible by asking questions.
• If the caller hangs up, do not use the telephone on which the threat was received.
• Call campus police immediately from another telephone, or ask another person call the police immediately.
• Notify your supervisor or department head.
• Campus police will determine if you need to evacuate.
• If you evacuate, move to your emergency assembly area and await further instructions.
• Do not re-enter the evacuated building until instructed to do so by campus police.

Questions to Ask the Caller:

• When will the bomb explode?
• Where is it?
• What does it look like?
• What kind of bomb is it?
• What will cause it to explode?
• Why was it placed in the building?
• Did you place the bomb?
• What is your name?

Take Note of the Following Information About the Call:

• Caller’s gender
• Approximate age
• Voice characteristics, accent, etc.
• Is the voice familiar?
• Background noises
• Language style - formal, educated, slang, incoherent, foul, taped, read, etc.

Suspicious Letter and Package Characteristics:

• Origin - Postmark does not match the city of the return address, name of the sender is unusual or unknown, or there is no return address given.
• Balance - The letter is lopsided or unusually thick. Seems heavy for its size.
• Contents - Stiffness or springiness of contents; protruding wires or components; oily outer wrappings or envelope; feels like it contains a powdery substance.
• Smell - Particularly almond or other suspicious odors.
• Writing - Handwriting indicates a foreign style not normally received, cut-and-paste letters or rub-on block letters are used. Common words, titles or names are misspelled.