Suspicious Package
If you see a suspicious package:
- DO NOT open or shake it.
- DO NOT carry or show to others.
- DO NOT bring to the Police Department.
- DO NOT sniff, touch or taste.
- DO alert others in the area.
- Leave the area, prevent others from entering.
- Call the University Police at 617.627.6911 (x66911 from a campus phone).
- Create a list of persons in the room where the package was received.
Indicators of letter and parcel bombs may include: special deliveries and air mail, excessive postage, tape or string, and other irregularities.*
Letter and Parcel Bomb Recognition Checklist
What to look for:
- Foreign mail, air mail, and special deliveries.
- Restrictive markings such as “CONFIDENTIAL” or “PERSONAL”.
- Excessive postage.
- Handwritten or poorly typed address.
- Incorrect titles.
- Misspellings of common words.
- Oily stains or discoloration on package.
- Strange odor.
- Strange sounds.
- Excessive weight.
- Rigid, lopsided, or uneven envelopes.
- Excessive tape or string.
- Visual distractions.
- No return address.
Handling Suspicious Packages
- DO NOT open or shake it.
- DO NOT carry or show to others.
- DO NOT bring to the Police Department.
- DO NOT sniff, touch or taste.
- DO place on stable surface, preferably a Bio-Safety Cabinet.
- DO alert others in the area.
- Leave the area, close doors and prevent others from entering by using signs or guarding.
- Distance and separation are the safest precautions to take.
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Call the University Police at 617.627.6911 (x66911 from a campus phone).
- Create a list of persons in the room where the package was received.
Emergency Telephone Numbers
In case of emergency call 617.627.6911 (x66911 from a campus phone). Fire on the Boston health sciences and SMFA campuses call 911. Visit the University Police website for a complete list of campus-specific phone numbers.