Reporting a Security Breach or Suspicious Activity
You notice an unfamiliar person attempting to access a restricted area without authorization or suspicious packages left unattended. You need to discreetly report the activity to security personnel or local authorities and follow their instructions.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
suspicious
Something that makes you think it might be dangerous or wrong, like unusual behavior. Use it when reporting odd activities to authorities.
report
To tell officials or authorities about an incident or problem. It's a key verb for emergencies, like calling police to report a crime.
identification
Proof of who you are, like an ID card. In security situations, it's used to check if someone is authorized to be in a place.
describe
To give details about someone's appearance or actions. Helpful in emergencies to help others identify a person quickly.
investigate
To examine a situation carefully to find out what happened. Security teams use this when checking reports of suspicious activity.
hoodie
A casual sweatshirt with a hood. Common clothing description in reports, as it's often worn for anonymity.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I need to report something that looks a bit suspicious.
This polite opening sentence uses 'excuse me' to get attention and 'report' to state the purpose. It's useful for starting conversations with authorities in emergencies; the grammar is simple present tense for immediate needs.
What seems to be the problem?
A professional question to ask for details. 'Seems to be' softens the inquiry, making it polite. Use this when responding to reports; it shows active listening and uses present tense for current issues.
Can you describe him? What was he wearing, and which direction did he go?
This gathers specific information using questions with 'can you' for requests and past tense for recent events. Practical for security responses; it helps build a clear picture quickly.
He was wearing a dark hoodie and jeans. He's probably in his late 20s or early 30s.
Past continuous 'was wearing' describes recent actions, and 'probably' adds uncertainty. Useful for giving witness descriptions; focus on details like clothing and age to aid identification.
We'll send a security officer to investigate immediately.
Future 'we'll send' promises action, with 'immediately' showing urgency. This reassures the reporter; use in official responses to show quick handling of crises.
Please try to stay clear of that area for now.
Polite instruction with 'please' and imperative 'stay clear' meaning avoid. 'For now' implies temporary safety measure. Essential for guiding people in dangerous situations to prevent risks.
Understood. Is there anything else I should do?
'Understood' acknowledges instructions, followed by a question for more guidance using 'should' for advice. Shows cooperation; use after receiving directions in emergencies to confirm next steps.