A person loitering near a residence is reported; which code should be used?

• A. 651 Loose animals
• B. 647 Suspicious person, check activity
• C. 601 Missing person
• D. 418 Civil matter-stand by

Answer: (B)

Loitering near a residence is a form of suspicious activity that warrants a check on what’s happening. Using the code for suspicious person, check activity sends the message to dispatch and responding units that someone is lingering in a location where their presence isn’t clearly benign and requires verification of identity and intent. This code is meant to prompt a cautious but purposeful investigation to determine if there’s a safety concern or legitimate reason for the person’s presence.

This fits much better than the other options. The loose animals code is about animals causing a disturbance or hazard, not a person loitering. A missing person code is used when someone is absent and at risk, not when a person is simply nearby a residence. A civil matter stand-by is for non-criminal civil disputes or requests for officer presence without an immediate threat. In this scenario, the suspicious person, check activity code directly addresses the observed behavior and the appropriate initial response.