In which circumstance can officers visit a business that appears closed?

Officers can visit a business that appears closed during a routine security check to assess its condition or ensure that no illicit activities are occurring. This practice often occurs in the interest of maintaining public safety and security within the community. A routine security check allows officers to take proactive measures in preventing potential crime or responding to an observed issue without needing a specific suspicion of illegal activity.

While officers can visit a closed business if they suspect illegal activity, it involves a standard of probable cause that a routine check does not. Similarly, the context of an active investigation typically requires a targeted approach rather than a general security check. A welfare check, while important in certain contexts, may not apply to a business setting in the same way it would to an individual’s residence unless there are specific indications of distress or harm. Thus, the routine security check scenario aligns more closely with proactive policing measures.