Bomb Threats and Personal Threats Received by Telephone
Many bomb threats and other types of threats are made against individuals. Others allege that bombs have been planted in facilities. Most threats are made by telephone.
It is an unnerving experience for anyone to receive a telephoned threat, but there are ways to minimize personal fear and still concentrate on gathering helpful information for law enforcement personnel to identify the person making the threat.
The first step is to realize that any court employee could receive such a call. The second step is to be aware that careful procedures have been developed to counter such threats and to arrest and convict the callers.
The Court provides two forms to keep on hand for noting important information and asking the right questions if you receive a threat by telephone. One is for bomb threats, and the other is for personal threats.
Letter and Package Bombs
Here are some things to look for to recognize possible letter and parcel bombs. They may have
- oily stains or discoloration;
- no return address;
- excessive weight;
- an envelope that is rigid;
- an envelope that is lopsided or uneven;
- wires or tinfoil protruding from the package or envelope;
- excessive masking tape, string, or other wrappings;
- foreign mail, air mail, or special delivery;
- restrictive markings such as “Confidential” or “Personal”;
- excessive postage;
- hand-written or poorly-typed addresses;
- incorrect titles;
- a title with no name;
- misspellings of common words; or
- visual distractions on letters and parcels.