Statistically which cache container gets blown up by the bomb squad the most?

[+L0ne.R]

I was just reading the "Large Cache" discussion and there's some talk about ammo cans not really being that great a container because they get blown up by bomb squads. Does anyone have any idea or has anyone actually gathered any stats with regard to the type of cache containers that get bomb squad visits? Lately, based on the newsy items I have read via the forums, I would have guessed it was the film canister or pill bottle LPCs that were most frequently blown up by the bomb squad.

[jholly]

The bomb squads do not seem to discriminate. They have blown up ammo cans in the desert, film cans in guard rails, Lock-n-Lock's that were not painted and labeled, pvc pipes, and even traffic counters. They even blew up Lock-n-Lock's outside a police station that was placed with the permission of the Police Chief. I believe the motto is "You hide them, we blow them up".

[+sbell111]

I bet that, historically, tupperware/rubbermaid/LnL-type containers have gotten 'made safe' most often.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

I suspect that the greatest contributing factor for caches that are blown up, or at least a cache that has come to the attention of LEOs is not the size of the cache, but where it is located.

[+sbell111]

I suspect that the greatest contributing factor for caches that are blown up is that they have come to the attention of LEOs.

[Mr.Yuck]

I was just reading the "Large Cache" discussion and there's some talk about ammo cans not really being that great a container because they get blown up by bomb squads. Does anyone have any idea or has anyone actually gathered any stats with regard to the type of cache containers that get bomb squad visits? Lately, based on the newsy items I have read via the forums, I would have guessed it was the film canister or pill bottle LPCs that were most frequently blown up by the bomb squad.

 

Well, someone could manually compile statistics from this excellent bookmark list.

 

There's also this bookmark list which was compiled from about 2002-2006 by a now banned cacher. Then it was adopted by someone else, and shortly thereafter abandoned. But it's very complete from the first ever blown-up cache (whatever that was) up to 2005 or 2006.

[+TomToad]

Here is one incident where I'm sure the bomb squad is glad they didn't "render safe" the package beforehand.

 

http://www.geekosystem.com/bomb-squad-kittens/

 

Edit: Did the reporter at around 25-35 seconds say "unfortunately the bomb squad did not blow up that box?"

Edited November 5, 2010 by TomToad

[+NYPaddleCacher]

I suspect that the greatest contributing factor for caches that are blown up is that they have come to the attention of LEOs.

 

which is more likely going to happen based on where/how it is hidden rather than what size of container is used.

[+narcissa]

Hmm, it would be interesting to collect data and see...

[gpsblake]

They even blew up Lock-n-Lock's outside a police station that was placed with the permission of the Police Chief.

 

You know, they should have blown it up if they had doubts....

 

Okay, let's pretend. I'm a terrorist. I check for geocache listings at potential terrorist targets. I find one. I take my bomb, and replace your cache, with my bomb. Heck, I even mark the bomb "geocaching"..... Police ignore the bomb because they think it's a geocache... Bomb blows up......

 

that's why the Bomb Squad has to take them all that seriously.

[Mr.Yuck]

They even blew up Lock-n-Lock's outside a police station that was placed with the permission of the Police Chief.

 

That would be Erie Pa., 2004, and it was an ammo box.

 

Add to that a micro in Green Bay Wisconsin about a year ago where a prominent Geocacher who was a Green Bay fireman was on the scene, had already found the cache, and still couldn't stop his fellow City Employees from blowing the sucker up.

Edited November 7, 2010 by Mr.Yuck

[knowschad]

Well, someone could manually compile statistics from this excellent bookmark list.

Hahah! I got curious about the one cache on the first page of that list that is still active. The one that says, "Busted by Wal-Mart cop" in July of 2010. Take a look at that log!

[+Ecylram]

They even blew up Lock-n-Lock's outside a police station that was placed with the permission of the Police Chief.

 

You know, they should have blown it up if they had doubts....

 

Okay, let's pretend. I'm a terrorist. I check for geocache listings at potential terrorist targets. I find one. I take my bomb, and replace your cache, with my bomb. Heck, I even mark the bomb "geocaching"..... Police ignore the bomb because they think it's a geocache... Bomb blows up......

 

that's why the Bomb Squad has to take them all that seriously.

100% correct and I don't fault them for doing their job.