+trail hound Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 I've recently noticed an unusually large amount of travel bugs missing in area caches and it always seems to be after a certain, new, cacher has been to the cache....At first, they wouldn't mention the bugs in their logs..I sent them an e-mail and asked if they needed help in logging the bugs.A week went by before I got a response and it stated that they never saw any travel bugs...Now they state in their logs that there was no T.B.'s in cache and most times, they are the next to log after a bug drop.... Any ideas as to what can be done to stop this???? The next bug could be YOURS!!!! Quote Link to comment
+the hermit crabs Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 (edited) At first I was thinking (trying to give them the benefit of the doubt) that maybe they like bugs are are actively searching out caches with bugs in them, so they'd be more likely than average to spot the missing ones. Then I wondered, if they really are stealing bugs, what their reaction would be if someone else got to them first. I looked at their logs, and there does seem to be a different reaction when that happens: in all of the cases where they are the first logger after a TB drop, they just say "No TB." In the one case where there was another log in between (which mentioned that there were no bugs in the cache), these cachers wrote "NO TRAVEL BUGS!!!!" I think you are right to be suspicous; I would be too. But I have no idea what can be done about it. edited for early-morning typos Edited September 6, 2005 by the hermit crabs Quote Link to comment
+the hermit crabs Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 Just got an idea... the "Exploding Dye-Pack TB"... Quote Link to comment
+BlueDeuce Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 (edited) Suspicious? ah yeah. I'll bet on a couple recent ones if you checked the logbook (if they sign it) they signed it before the next cacher and then posted on line after them. But no need to go that far. Pass this information on to your local approver so they can keep an eye on them as well. Who knows maybe they can see if this new cacher is actually an old cacher playing games. Edit: addtional thought. I'll bet five bucks these bugs will suddenly show up requiring a ransom of some sort to be released. Edited September 6, 2005 by BlueDeuce Quote Link to comment
+Lemon Fresh Dog Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 Sounds like a "sting" operation is needed. Set-up a cache, set up a webcam. Drop some bugs -- video their arrival and removal of bugs. Then, if the bug goes "missing" you can post the picture of them removing the bug for all to see! Maybe even make it the front page of a webcam cache called "Bug Catcher" or some such thing. For all eternity they can be humiliated! (also, to give them the benefit of the doubt, they are probably collecting Travel Bugs in secret for a cache of their own -- TB Prison/hotel)......nah.... they're theives. Quote Link to comment
+Bear Paughs Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 Just got an idea... the "Exploding Dye-Pack TB"... I love it! Quote Link to comment
+Team Owl Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 Lots of edits and double logs. Strange all the way around. Members only won't even work because they are members. I agree with contacting your local reviewer. Good luck with this situation. Quote Link to comment
+Thrak Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 Hunt them down and shoot them. Quote Link to comment
+trail hound Posted September 7, 2005 Author Share Posted September 7, 2005 I just noticed that they have eight T.B.'S in their name and none are released ?????Including three or four Jeeps (under various names) How are they switching names of T.B.'S and claiming them as theirs????? But not every releasing them???? How do I contact an approver??? Quote Link to comment
+Team Owl Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 (edited) I just noticed that they have eight T.B.'S in their name and none are released ?????Including three or four Jeeps (under various names) How are they switching names of T.B.'S and claiming them as theirs????? But not every releasing them???? How do I contact an approver??? At the bottom of your caches there should be the name of a local or state reviewer, the one who approved your caches. I would start there. Edited September 7, 2005 by Team Owl Quote Link to comment
+welch Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 How do I contact an approver??? Find a profile of the person(s) that review the cache caches in your area. Looks like MissPlaced AT geocachingadmin.com is somewhat nearby. or can probably direct you to the correct one. Quote Link to comment
+trail hound Posted September 7, 2005 Author Share Posted September 7, 2005 Thanks Team Owl and Welch E-Mail has been sent. I'm thinking about, loading up a cache with Travel Bugs and setting A BEAR TRAP!!! Quote Link to comment
+Team Milbrandt Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 I have also notice a great deal of tb's just disapearing. Some I have seen logged out in the logbooks but not online. Some have been logged out online but still in the cache. I have even seen instances where people log them into a cache in the logbook and online but when the first to arrive after drop off of the TB it is no where to be found (fake drop). I think people need to be more careful and considerate of these things. I myself have ordered some of the new 2005 WA geocoins and I like the idea of having address tags on the TB's. So I have decided that a small hole drilled on one edge of the coin would be great for placing a small chain for an address tag. "I belong to luvsmyrubi, and stealing is a crime" Sound good? Quote Link to comment
+copper_toad Posted September 7, 2005 Share Posted September 7, 2005 "I belong to luvsmyrubi, and stealing is a crime" Sound good? If I was tagging one, I would have it say.... "and stealing is bad karma!" Because it is! Quote Link to comment
+WebbyCat Posted September 20, 2005 Share Posted September 20, 2005 (edited) There was a similar episode in the Kansas City area concerning a TB thief who had stolen 20plus TB's which had been going on for about a year. Nothing was posted or anything-the TB's just kept disappearing from the caches. My Mr. BooCat TB was involved and I just gave up all hope for him. Then suddenly a few weeks ago, I saw that my Mr. BooCat was placed in a cache west of Kansas City about a year after he disappeard. All the other stolen TB's were placed in the cache too. It looked like somebody created a fake account to dump off all the stolen TB's Subhubby When I saw it, at first I didn't believe that all the TB's were dumped in the cache, and the jerk was just fooling us. Luckily the bugs were actually put in the cache and the next few cache finders had a real bonanza of TB's and some said it was the best TB stash they had ever seen. Anyway, I'm glad that whoever stole the bugs finally returned them and they are in circulation again. I'm glad that this is a TB horror story that had a wonderful ending. Edited September 20, 2005 by WebbyCat Quote Link to comment
+tomturtle Posted September 22, 2005 Share Posted September 22, 2005 Maybe a satellite tracking device equipped with a TB dogtag would help catch the thieves? Quote Link to comment
+Joypa Posted September 23, 2005 Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) Just once..JUST ONCE I would like to see one of these b******s caught and hung by his sac. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever been caught and there is no realistic way to catch them. But just once.... Edited November 28, 2005 by Eartha Quote Link to comment
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