MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

What is the first action recommended when responding to a Breaking and Entering of a Commercial Business?

1. Call the owner of the business

2. Wait for backup to help identify the assailant

3. Use alley lights to illuminate glass and look for reflections

4. Notify dispatch and request backup

The correct answer is: Use alley lights to illuminate glass and look for reflections

The first action recommended when responding to a breaking and entering of a commercial business is to use alley lights to illuminate glass and look for reflections. This approach serves a dual purpose: enhancing visibility in potentially dark areas and allowing the responding officers to assess the situation from a distance without directly engaging with the suspects. By illuminating reflective surfaces, officers may observe movements and behaviors that could indicate the presence of suspects or accomplices inside the premises. Focusing on visibility helps ensure the safety of the responding officers and any potential victims or bystanders. This action allows law enforcement to gather crucial information about the status of the business and the presence of any threats before proceeding further. In contrast, notifying dispatch and requesting backup might come after assessing initial conditions. While calling the business owner can be important, it is not the immediate priority in the response sequence. Waiting for backup would delay the response and could escalate risk if suspects are present. Therefore, using lighting effectively aids in a safer and more informed response.