PlantAKiss

Ahh I see. Thank you. Still think it's a kid and even if not, they stole my cache. I have no doubt. Even in a court of law you do not have to have photos or videos to prove a crime. "Circumstantial evidence IS evidence."

"I'm really sorry to hear this story. I know the feeling of frustration and helplessness when someone vandalizes your cache. It must be even worse because you spent so much time building a custom container." Thank you! Im heartsick. This cache (and others) have been down for 15+ years. Relocated because of habitat destruction and rebuilt to its original glory. So many nice logs.

Max and 99... When I first read the messages I was not questioning if this person had stolen my cache so I had not checked their profile. Only reason I asked was 1) Second cache is not hard and doesn't require "3 hrs" and a mile of searching 2) strange wording in messages. So I was wondering about their experience level. So I asked. It wasn't until I physically got to my caches hours later and realized that LIKELY that person was the thief. LATER I looked up the profile and saw 1find. I have no idea why profile says "gifted" and basic. I can only guess they were gifted a premium and did not renew since they weren't using it. Obviously this person is not "into geocaching."

I'll apologize in advance for the long story. I did not have a Happy New Year's Day. In the morning I heard a notification on my phone. Didn't look at it. Followed a little while later by another notification. Looked at it--they were GC notices. I thought maybe someone logged Found on my caches. Turned out they were messages. The messages were worded oddly --I'm guessing a kid. First message said "we" can't find the cache but found "a baggie" on the ground. 2nd message was about another cache--spent "3 hours" looking, "looked a mile away" and other nonsensical statements. I replied that I check on my caches *frequently* and there had been no problems. Got another message about the first cache saying container missing and "baggie and logbook" were on the ground. So I hied my butt out to my caches. (It started sprinkling rain.) First (creative) cache completely gone. I could have cried--it took me almost 40 hours to rebuild it (replacement container/camo). But sure enough, the logbook in the baggie was laying neatly on the ground. I'm so so grateful because it's the original logbook from around 2007 and cachers have enjoyed looking back through it. (Also was a proxy TB in it). Off to the next cache. Much to my relief the cache was there, "they" just couldn't find it. But here's where it gets interesting. I searched around on the off chance my other cache was dumped here. I saw something bright green sticking out of a fallen tree. Turns out it was the main baggie (labeled "swag") and all the smaller baggies that HAD contained swag from the stolen cache that had been stuffed into a small tree hole. So the thief had taken all the swag from the missing cache and tried to hide the baggies at the second cache. I double checked on the swag in the cache placed there and it was untouched so apparently "they" truly couldn't find it (or I'm sure that would be gone too). This person did NOT log a DNF on 2nd cache (despite their "3 hr" search); DID log a DNF on the stolen cache where logbook was on the ground. SO. I'm 99.999% sure the person who contacted me is actually the thief of my stolen cache: --I think the messages were intended to make me think that my cache was already missing when they looked. -- It's been raining off and on lately but logbook and inside of baggie was completely dry -- There was no detritus/leaf litter on the baggie, pristine condition on the ground -- Discarded baggies also were completely dry on the inside and barely damp on outside (due to sprinkling rain) -- Upon investigation, cacher has a "gifted" basic membership (1-22), last on GC.com 7-22, 1 find -- Didn't answer question I asked about how many finds they had. -- I think "they" found/stole first cache then went to second and emptied stolen swag there. Tried to get me to tell them where other cache was. Both had containers with swag. Don't think an adult would be interested in stealing swag. I have temporarily disabled all my caches that are small-reg containers with swag. Left 2 harder micros. 1) Is there any way to conceal cache coordinates on a disabled cache? Anyone can still hunt for my caches. 2) Is it possible to block a specific cacher from seeing your cache and coords? 3) Is it possible to get someone kicked off of GC.com for theft? 4) What is the minimum age someone can have an account? Pretty sure from their messages it's a kid. I feel my caches are completely vulnerable to this person and some of my long-term "special" containers might be desirable to a kid. If they all get stolen I think it would just break me. I've put so much time and effort into all my caches and placements, new and old. This isn't just a stolen cache--pretty sure who the thief is which is even worse. Thanks if anyone has any help to preventing this person from doing it again.

Wow. I feel like a scmuck. Such wonderful caching goals. My goals are: 1) stay upright 2) don't fall 3) don't break anything 4) be able to walk more than a mile without back pain 5) suck it up buttercup 6) find some of my long-time DNFed caches. 😂

Yeah...someone lied about "the Golden Years." They aren't so golden when it seems every day you get a new ache or pain or disease or illness. It's really weird--your body just decides its not going to do something anymore. You have little control over it. Some things can't be fixed. Definitely its hard getting around in a nimble fashion. My worst issue is not age related. For some reason the balance nerve in my right ear decided to go AWOL so I have balance issues and vertigo attacks. The balance issue affects my caching more than anything...uneven terrain, rocks, climbing anything I have to either not do it or be so so so careful. I did discover that using trekking poles helps me with my balance. They are awesome! Should have gotten them sooner. They give me 4 "legs"! But the poles won't fix my aging body. As long a I CAN get out and be mobile, I'll look for the cache types I enjoy doing when it's possible for me to go hunting.

I've been out for the past couple of months placing new caches so I was outside sweating like a pig as I worked on them. Now published, I've been a little surprised how light "traffic" has been for the new caches including "FTF." I was wondering if the heat has kept cachers more quiet. I don't have AC so I sweat indoors as much outdoors so it doesn't make much difference to me. I enjoy the hell out of AC but I can tolerate the heat. HATE the sweat part though. But I haven't passed out outside...yet.

Thank you! I understand now.

So does the notification about new caches come from the published date or the placement date? If it comes from the published date, then the light traffic might be just cachers are busy and hot. Thanks for the input.

Hi all. I just had 4 new caches published that I have been working on for quite some time--searching placement space, buying items, creating stuff, doing test placements and corrections as needed, etc. So my cache placement dates are when I first put down my test caches until they were tweaked and ready, some time in May. My caches were published this past Friday. Activity was lighter than I'd expected, especially for the FTFers. I happen to meet a cacher while doing a little check up on a cache and he mentioned that my caches had not shown up on the "new caches" list because the placement date is in May. (As CO, I got NUMEROUS published notifications in my email.) 1) Is he right and that is why not many cachers have been out so far (over the weekend)? 2) Or is because it is blazing hot and dripping humid 3) **IF** the May placement date is causing confusion and slow traffic, can I edit the placement date on the 4 listings since I was actually working on these caches up until a couple of days before being published? I never even thought about the placement date but entered when my test caches were down so I could test coords and correct any issues. Thank you!

Not a good find, but I found 2 crack pipes (first time I've ever seen one in person) and DNFed the cache to boot (turned out it was missing --my most hated DNFs). I found another cacher's hikey-pokey pole and was able to locate the owner. But the best thing I ever found, going for 14 caches, was/is an isolated mostly unknown state forest I have been playing in almost every other week ever since for the last 10 years. The BEST caching find ever (caches in there were good too).

Thank you. I have read the guidelines but thought it applied to any physical stage. My multi has been down for many years (528' apart 😄) but I had read conflicting info here now and then. 👍🏻

I thought each physical stage of a multi had to be a minimum of 528'?

I've changed ratings on occasion due to changing terrain or having to move a stage. Ratings are about my cache, not someone's grid thingy.

I've had a PM membership so long I don't even think about it. I do remember when it was all free. But I think the fee is nominal, even though it's gone up. It's for a whole year. Monthly would be different. I pay way more just for good weather radar. So I think it's worth it.

Thank you all for the input!

They aren't themed or related. But they are all in one park-ish area. I thought it might p*SS some cachers off if they go there to find a cache and later see they have to go back over and over instead on one trip to get them all. I have 3 long-term caches there, 1 long-term disabled which I might just relist, and 4 new in progress. So potential 8 finds in one sweep for some cachers. That's why I was leaning all at once. 🤔 Thanks for the input.

I tried a search for this but didn't see a topic on it. Soo... Hopefully I'm going to be publishing 4 new caches plus a disabled one I'll either archive (and keep its 15 yr history) or realist it new. They are all in the same area. Is it better to publish them all at the same time or publish a few at a time to spread it out?

Wow. I have only 600+ finds but I've understood when a NM is warranted since the beginning--it's in the guidelines. I'm generally not marking an NM for what I believe is a missing cache, but because of cache damage. I'm always surprise when a "Found It" log says "container is cracked, full of mud and the log is mush."...but no NM on the listing. People seem very reluctant to put an NM but owners need to know! I appreciate it. I think how many finds you have isn't as important as understanding what the guidelines are for it. I have directly contacted owners as well if I know where a cache should be but it's not there.

I do get email notices but I don't check my email that often. However a strictly caching email account might do the trick. I also changed my app notifications to "persistent." Oddly enough, a cacher contacted me just yesterday with a question but I didn't see it until too late. That's what I'm trying to fix. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions!

I have yet to find any notifications for the message center. I see just app "notifications" which has been on. Maybe I need to update the app? I don't use the the GC app. I'll keep looking. Thanks for the replies!

I can try that. Thanks!

(I swear I do searches before asking a question but I rarely get a return that answers it. Maybe not wording my ask in best way.) I feel bad when I discover a cacher has reached out to me with a question (email or app message) and I didn't see it. I don't check my email/app that often. 1) Do some cachers put their phone number in their profile so they can be contacted? 2) Is there a reasonably safe way to do that or is it not wise, risky? I don't want to get spammed or stalked or anything, but I wouldn't mind a text from a cacher needing a little help. Thanks!

Thank you for the additional info Martemous. It's possible I purchased as a guest. I tried several times and don't remember what I did when. It's not a big deal. I'm just used to seeing purchases listed on sites like eBay, but for those, one log-in gives you all access. I'll remember next time that shopping is a separate thing. Thanks!

Thank you for the info about the separate log-in. Well, actually, I did do the separate log in. It just said "no orders" when I did log in. So I'm assuming it said that because my order was already shipped? I didn't see a purchase history. I DID receive my order today. But supposin' something was missing, how could I see what I had ordered? Just the email? Received my order today so much faster than expected and all there. But a purchase history would be nice to have. Thank you!