User stealing caches - is there any way to stop them?

[+herr_tichy]

Hello Forum,

 

This user has been stealing caches in and around OWL / Germany. Additionally, they're making fun of cacheowners in the logs afterwards. Does anybody have any sort of experience dealing with such douchebags? Can geocaching.com step in and hand out their IPs?

[RuideAlmeida]

Hello Forum,

 

This user has been stealing caches in and around OWL / Germany. Additionally, they're making fun of cacheowners in the logs afterwards. Does anybody have any sort of experience dealing with such douchebags? Can geocaching.com step in and hand out their IPs?

 

I dont think so.

Maybe you can place a new cache with a webcam near to catch that son of a b**** on picture... maybe someone recognizes him.

[+briansnat]

They are generally looking for one thing - attention. Deny them that and their reason for doing it goes away. Unfortunately threads like this one have the opposite affect.

Edited December 20, 2009 by briansnat

[+briansnat]

After reading the logs it seems more like a local geocacher who has an axe to grind. Denying him attention may or may not work depending on how obsessed he is with his agenda. Can't hurt to try though.

[+Team Cotati]

Hello Forum,

 

This user has been stealing caches in and around OWL / Germany. Additionally, they're making fun of cacheowners in the logs afterwards. Does anybody have any sort of experience dealing with such douchebags? Can geocaching.com step in and hand out their IPs?

 

Being IP challenged, I'd like to know what would be done if the subject cacher's IP addy were to be made available?

[+bafl01]

i read the logs as well and i dont see any proof that this gentleman is doinig anything. the only thing he is doing is repetitively posting a list of people he feels are stealing tbs. while this is not great i dont see any proof that he is damaging or stealing caches or did i miss something. most of the caches he has visited have logs afterwords

[+herr_tichy]

Today, he has taken a cache that I co-maintain because "it lacks a licence". (see: here) Also, he or they seem to be using multiple usernames, as this is also being discussed on the local geocaching mailing-list and there's more users showing this behaviour.

Edited December 20, 2009 by herr_tichy

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

The issue of cache ownership has been widely discussed, but I have yet to see a case made that a cache thief can be prosecuted for theft or vandalism, and I certainly don't know how that would work under German law, but a conversation with your local police might be in order.

 

Have you a policeman friend? Sometimes just having an authority show up at his door and shake a finger at him is all that is needed to straighten someone out!

[+bafl01]

is he right are these caches on someones property with no permision?

[4wheelin_fool]

Today, he has taken a cache that I co-maintain because "it lacks a licence". (see: here) Also, he or they seem to be using multiple usernames, as this is also being discussed on the local geocaching mailing-list and there's more users showing this behaviour.

 

Open another account and seemingly mimic his behaviour. Next, contact him and try to get him to meet you to muggle some caches. Show up and get someone to discreetly take his picture, and have a few dozen other cachers nearby to keep an eye on things. Then come back here and post his or her pic.

 

There are some personality disorders which are contagious through the use of memes. Personality disorders and mental illnesses (such as OCD) are becoming more prevalent nowadays, and what is disturbing is that some are being spread intentionally. A negative meme is similar to a computer virus, or a venereal disease. The difference is that negative memes do not usually come from one source, they usually need to be recieved from multiple sources (like pieces of a puzzle) to create the personality disorder. To have the disorder take hold of your mind, you need to trust the source. This can be done through humor or label manipulation, or in other ways. Howard Stern is a good example of someone who purposely does this. It can come from music, or movies or any media. Often people who spread negative memes do it unconsciously in a way to make themselves feel better, or seem normal. However an excessive personality disorder, along with a chemical imbalance can lead to a mental illness. Personality disorders are common and harmless in most cases, but a mental illness is much more serious. Whoever is doing it may have OCD, but OCD is not necessarily bad. Thomas Edison most likely had it. (99%perspiration, 1%inspiration) Find out what they are focused on, and just take it away.

Edited December 23, 2009 by 4wheelin_fool

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

Open another account and seemingly mimic his behaviour. Next, ...

... Find out what they are focused on, and just take it away.

Probably not a good idea to take this guy on, just let it slide. Life's too short to worry about the small stuff.

 

As George Carlin says, don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

Edited December 23, 2009 by TheAlabamaRambler

[4wheelin_fool]

Open another account and seemingly mimic his behaviour. Next, ...

... Find out what they are focused on, and just take it away.

Probably not a good idea to take this guy on, just let it slide. Life's too short to worry about the small stuff.

 

As George Carlin says, don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

 

He was just trying to psych out the competition.