Intelligence reporting indicates that Al Qaeda continues to target for attack commercial and financial institutions, as well as international organizations, inside the United States. The New York City Police Department has deployed its resources accordingly, including Hercules and Atlas assets and Critical Response Surges. The NYPD recommends that corporate and institutional security directors review their protection of HVAC systems, parking installations, and security in general. We are distributing previously circulated information on surveillance indicators, as well as general security tips below.

The alert level for New York City remains unchanged at "Orange" or "High."

Pre-Op Surveillance Indicators
* Bomb threats designed to evaluate your response
* Infiltration of your operation by individuals seeking employment
* Visitors to your facility who claim to be lost or appear disoriented
* Maintenance work that isn't announced or scheduled in advance
* Deliveries that are not anticipated
* People asking directions to sensitive areas (utility rooms, HVAC systems)
* People asking questions regarding security force capabilities, staffing, etc.
* Persons taking unusual videos or photographs

Consider the following measures to detect/discourage potential surveillance attempts:
* Quickly engage loiterers
* Report and identify trespassers
* Challenge and identify maintenance workers when maintenance has not been requested
* Properly screen new hires and new vendors
* Instruct employees not to divulge sensitive information and report suspicious requests

General Security Measures

* EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION CARDS: Instruct all employees to wear identification cards and enforce this directive. Contractors and temporary workers should be properly screened and issued temporary expiring passes or identification cards which they should wear on their outermost garment.
* EMPLOYEES TO GREET PERSONS AT ALL ENTRANCES: Security personnel or customer service representatives to engage persons by "greeting" them as they enter the premises, should be utilized. This practice has been found to be an effective tool in deterring criminal activity.
* BOMB THREATS: Place bomb threat checklists at all areas where employees may receive incoming calls.
* EMERGENCY SUPPLIES/UPDATED PLANS: The shelf-life of items such as battery operated flashlights and other emergency supplies should be checked and outdated items replaced. Emergency plans should be updated; staff should be knowledgeable in their implementation, and the plans should be properly secured but readily available for review by first responders.
* EMERGENCY GENERATORS/LIGHTING/ELEVATOR RECALL/LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS: Emergency generators should be tested under load. Emergency lighting should be tested and repairs made where necessary.
* PERIODIC INTERIOR/EXTERIOR ROVING PATROLS: Should be conducted by uniformed security personnel, at irregular times.
* CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION SYSTEMS (CCTV): High quality digital equipment to capture faces of persons at key locations, such as entrances and exits. Cameras should be positioned to ensure a full frontal photograph is obtained of possible perpetrators. Use digital recording systems capable of easy viewing and retrieval of high quality images (i.e., a sufficient number of pixels for improved zoom capabilities), and of transferring the images to a portable form of media such as CD-R or DVD with a minimum amount of technical knowledge.

Businesses that do not have digital equipment installed should have analog CCTV equipment of sufficient quality to accomplish the identification and coverage goals described above. For time-lapse analog recorders, it is imperative that tapes are changed daily, properly labeled, used no more than five to eight times and kept for at least one month. Recorder heads should be cleaned at least every six months and tape playback quality checked on another machine. Recording equipment (digital or analog) and CD's, DVD's or tapes should be secured in a locked area to prevent tampering. When considering replacement or additional equipment, businesses should install high quality digital equipment.

* LIGHTING: Cameras or interior lighting positioned so lighting does not interfere with processing images of persons captured on security video. Exterior lighting should be sufficient to observe activity and deter criminals and loitering.
* SIGNAGE: Appropriate signage should be posted indicating restricted areas, persons are trespassing and will be arrested.
* ALARM SYSTEMS: Test existing alarm systems, to ensure they are functioning properly. Proprietary alarm systems should be enhanced to include doors to critical areas such as utility closets, HVAC, rooftops and street level fire exits.
* HVAC/UTILITY ROOMS: Ensure utility rooms and doors leading to HVAC areas have appropriate and functioning locking hardware. Ensure cameras/staff/security patrols are positioned to view these areas. Consider posting a security officer at the fresh air intake if it is accessible to the public.
* CLEANLINESS: Areas should be devoid of clutter to ensure suspicious items can be readily observed and quickly identified.

For further information contact DCPI at 646-610-6700.