+anacrime Posted February 10, 2007 Posted February 10, 2007 Disclaimer: Tried searching for related topics but didn't come up with much. Anyway, my friends and I just started caching last week and have already had about a half dozen encounters with security guards, police, and others. Each time we've tried to explain to them a little bit about geocaching, just to ensure them that we're not selling/hiding drugs or other bad things. We do however try not to disclose the exact location (ie: in this bush, behind this sign, etc) to the mugglers. What are some of the ways you more experience cachers deal with these encounters? Quote
+CYBret Posted February 10, 2007 Posted February 10, 2007 Weird. I've been doing this for five years (as of Monday), over 2000 finds and only one run-in with a rent-a-cop. What am I doing wrong? Print out some of these and give them to them. Bret Quote
+Snoogans Posted February 10, 2007 Posted February 10, 2007 (edited) What are some of the ways you more experience cachers deal with these encounters? I usually throw out a few of these: Mind your own business! You don't frighten us, English pig-dogs! Go and boil your bottom, sons of a silly person. I blow my nose at you, so-called Arthur King, you and all your silly English k-nnnnniggets. Thpppppt! Thppt! Thppt! I don't wanna talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! No. Now, go away, or I shall taunt you a second time-a! Edited February 10, 2007 by Snoogans Quote
+sbell111 Posted February 10, 2007 Posted February 10, 2007 I explain that my car broke down and ask them if I can have ten bucks to get it fixed. They typically either don't talk to me and rush away or explain that they don't have any money and rush away. Either way, I'm clear to find the cache. Quote
+sbell111 Posted February 10, 2007 Posted February 10, 2007 I've never been questioned by Rent-a-Cops. I've had two experiences with LEOs. In the first, I approached them to get them in a pic of our state capital with me (for an LC). In the second, he bull horned me to get out of the street. I complied. He drove away. Quote
+Cpt.Blackbeard Posted February 10, 2007 Posted February 10, 2007 Try a search for muggles instead of mugglers, you might do better. If you are encountering that many LEO's I suggest searching in other areas where they don't patrol as closely, This cache should be LEO free. Quote
+Vinny & Sue Team Posted February 10, 2007 Posted February 10, 2007 Disclaimer: Tried searching for related topics but didn't come up with much. Anyway, my friends and I just started caching last week and have already had about a half dozen encounters with security guards, police, and others. Each time we've tried to explain to them a little bit about geocaching, just to ensure them that we're not selling/hiding drugs or other bad things. We do however try not to disclose the exact location (ie: in this bush, behind this sign, etc) to the mugglers. What are some of the ways you more experience cachers deal with these encounters? Very weird. Sue and I have nearly a gazillion (that is a bit over a thousand) finds on our joint account, and neither of us has ever had an encounter with a security guard, and in all that time, only one of us (Sue) has even had a police officer approach her to ask what she was doing (she had the wrong coordinates for a stage of a multi and was prowling on the front lawn of a bank branch in a shopping mall.) Quote
+Bill & Tammy Posted February 11, 2007 Posted February 11, 2007 (edited) I usually say "Hi, how are you?" Unless I am being "questioned by a LEO or other authority, then I tell tham I am hunting geocache and hope they already know about it. I don't think we need to explain ourselves anymore than anyone else who is in public. I mean have you ever stopped a jogger and said "hey, what the heck are you doing?" Edited February 11, 2007 by Bill & Tammy Quote
+sbell111 Posted February 11, 2007 Posted February 11, 2007 (edited) ... I mean have you ever stopped a jogger and said "hey, what the heck are you doing?"No, but I've tried 'How you doin'? It didn't work. She kept jogging. Edited February 11, 2007 by sbell111 Quote
+Glenn Posted February 11, 2007 Posted February 11, 2007 I don't seek around like I'm trying to do something that I should be doing. That draws way more attention that if you act like you are supposed to be there. You are not a secret agent using a dead drop. You are geocacher playing a game. Quote
+Team Dubbin Posted February 11, 2007 Posted February 11, 2007 What are some of the ways you more experience cachers deal with these encounters? I drop whatever I'm holding and RUN Really though I hand them a piece of paper that explains caching. Quote
Mr.Yuck Posted February 11, 2007 Posted February 11, 2007 (edited) Disclaimer: Tried searching for related topics but didn't come up with much. Anyway, my friends and I just started caching last week and have already had about a half dozen encounters with security guards, police, and others. Each time we've tried to explain to them a little bit about geocaching, just to ensure them that we're not selling/hiding drugs or other bad things. We do however try not to disclose the exact location (ie: in this bush, behind this sign, etc) to the mugglers. What are some of the ways you more experience cachers deal with these encounters? Funny in one week you'd come up with the term "mugglers" instead of "muggles", but that was a whole different thread. As others have said, I've had only 3-4 encounters in 3.5 years and over 1,000 finds. My favorite was having my car (with out of state plates) blockaded on a dead-end street by 5 police cars. I explained geocaching, and fortunately, one of the 10 or so officers on the scene had "seen an article about it somewhere". This was early 2004, but I'd still go with calmly explaining geocaching best you can. Either that, or ignore all urban micros. Sorry, couldn't resist. Edited February 11, 2007 by TheWhiteUrkel Quote
+skypilot172 Posted February 11, 2007 Posted February 11, 2007 you guys are way 2 funny great tips for when I get those strange looks, not sure why I am afraid of strange looks anyways .... can't wait to go on my next 'hunt' or whatever looking for geocaches is called Quote
+ReadyOrNot Posted February 12, 2007 Posted February 12, 2007 (edited) I explain that my car broke down and ask them if I can have ten bucks to get it fixed. They typically either don't talk to me and rush away or explain that they don't have any money and rush away. Either way, I'm clear to find the cache. Or you may just walk away with an extra $10! I've learned it's all about perception. If it's an extremely muggley area, keep a clipboard with you that you can carry around. I think most people will assume you are some kind of professional in the process of doing something important relating to your profession (whatever that means). If they do ask you what you are doing, tell them you are surveying the area and show them your GPS. Edited February 12, 2007 by ReadyOrNot Quote
+Robespierre Posted February 12, 2007 Posted February 12, 2007 Have you tried a fainting spell? Quote
+TexasGringo Posted February 12, 2007 Posted February 12, 2007 If they ask what I'm doing....I've explained it to them...and sometimes had them sign the log book. Quote
+shadohart Posted February 12, 2007 Posted February 12, 2007 I explain that my car broke down and ask them if I can have ten bucks to get it fixed. They typically either don't talk to me and rush away or explain that they don't have any money and rush away. Either way, I'm clear to find the cache. DUDE, this is awesome! I just read this one to anyone still awake in my house... that would be Tim. He and his friends do a little urban exploring, so they are going to borrow this for their excursions. Quote
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