Worst idea for a geocache container ever?

[+bluelamb03]

A friend pointed out a new geocache container available on the web:

 

My link

 

 

With all the bomb scares caused by geocaches is this the world's worst idea for a cache container?

Edited January 1, 2013 by bluelamb03

[+Panther&Pine]

I'd agree with it being a poor idea.

 

Edit. I'd probably not get as far as picking it up to find out the weight.

 

I feel like the whole thing needs a face.

Edited January 1, 2013 by MooseJawSpruce

[+M 5]

I would sign it really quickly

[+Moose Mob]

Bring Your Own Pin.

 

This might be OK well away from civilization... but an ammo can would be even better.

[4wheelin_fool]

It would make a stunning and exciting addition to the inside of any live electrical panel, on a train track, inside of any mouse poison trap, or buried in a garden among the peonies in front of the local courthouse! The downside is that it is plastic and easily recognizable as fake, although more realistic steel ones can be readily purchased at many sporting good stores..

[+PSJKids]

I'd sign it fast too...in less than 8 seconds then runing like Forrest Gump !

Edited January 1, 2013 by PsjKids

[+Bushwalker53]

No it isn't that good, But then again, we do hide ammunition boxes around the place.

[+Panther&Pine]

No it isn't that good, But then again, we do hide ammunition boxes around the place.

Short of hitting you with an ammo can I can't injure you with it.

And for ammo to work you need to hit the pin (most of the time that is...)

[+The_Incredibles_]

Good container for a throw-down?

[+MarkKer]

Very bad idea in many parts of the World.

Here in Germany, we still stumble upon the real thing in the woods far too often.

Even though WW2 ended in 1945, there are still millions of bombs, grenades and live rounds all over te place.

I used to go metal detecting and finally gave it up as most times all you would find are grenades, artillery shells, rounds of ammo and a lot of other really dangerous stuff.

Meanwhile, after nearly sevens decades in the ground, these things have become chemically unstable and tend to blow up if you just move them,

Sometimes after heavy rains, they get washed out of the ground and can be found in the open without even digging.

In many cases, these are blown up with an additional charge on site as it's too dangerous to move them.

So, if someone were to hide one of these in Germany or other parts of Europe, that cache would probably be blown up by the explosives specialists within a few days.

[+Isonzo Karst]

Someone hid one of these in a preserve in my part of the world. When biologists found it, they called the police. The police called in their bomb squad.

The bomb squad decided it was geocache, and did not blow up the tree....thanks to someone for applying some logic to the situation.

I spent some time over a couple of days trying to retain the right to place caches in that land manager's properties.

 

Ultimately, when the police department decided not to charge the cache owner, it all blew over, and caches can still be placed, with explicit permission.

 

As a cache container, I'd absolutely see is as in violation of the listing guidelines, and would quickly log an NA on one I found. The "commonsense"

section of the guidelines.

 

http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx#commonsense

 

Containers that could be perceived as a bomb or another dangerous item should not be placed.

[+dbrierley]

It wasn't a commercial product, but GC10PZ1 appears to have intentionally been made to look like a pipe bomb:

 

[Mr.Yuck]

Someone hid one of these in a preserve in my part of the world. When biologists found it, they called the police. The police called in their bomb squad.

The bomb squad decided it was geocache, and did not blow up the tree....thanks to someone for applying some logic to the situation.

I spent some time over a couple of days trying to retain the right to place caches in that land manager's properties.

 

Ultimately, when the police department decided not to charge the cache owner, it all blew over, and caches can still be placed, with explicit permission.

 

As a cache container, I'd absolutely see is as in violation of the listing guidelines, and would quickly log an NA on one I found. The "commonsense"

section of the guidelines.

 

http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx#commonsense

 

Containers that could be perceived as a bomb or another dangerous item should not be placed.

 

Very interesting story IK, thanks. Well, it's pretty easy to figure out the maker of these caches joined only 4 months ago, has logged less than 30 caches as found, and hidden almost twice as many as found. They definitely like to fabricate Geocaches. In their defense, there is a pretty nicely worded disclaimer about placing the grendade cache, and getting permission to do so. So we could pretty much chalk this up to inexperience. But i've said before, nothing could ever surprise me after Charter Member guy from Missouri made videos about the crumpled water bottle tossed into the bushes, or the blank DVD in the sidewalk crack, complete with a visit from local law enforcement while the DVD cache was being placed.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

If I came across it, and I knew it was the cache, I think I'd personally remove it and log the NA.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

The cache container in action. Placed directly roadside in an industrial park.

 

Absolutely brilliant!

 

(And not a single finder thought anything wrong with it)

Edited January 1, 2013 by BBWolf+3Pigs

[knowschad]

I suspect that it is pretty obvious in real life that it is a cheap molded plastic fake with no moving parts. A bomb expert would be much more likely to suspect that an ammo can or PVC pipe might contain explosives than this dime-store quality "hand grenade". You can't judge something like this from a photograph.

[+terratin]

It wasn't a commercial product, but GC10PZ1 appears to have intentionally been made to look like a pipe bomb:

 

 

I've once found one of these 'pipe bomb' caches in London of all places

 

I do agree that a hand grenade in Germany would be a very bad hide. Most younger people don't even know there's still masses of life ammo laying around. I don't want to think about someone finding such cache, and thinking that the real deal he might find next time is a hide as well.

 

Mrs. terratin

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

I suspect that it is pretty obvious in real life that it is a cheap molded plastic fake with no moving parts.

 

Until it has a chance to "age" in the elements.

[+DogArtist]

All I can say, in this day and age of terrorism and other violence, is what the heck is wrong with people thinking those are good cache containers? Sigh. How socially inconsiderate to place something that could (as in the case of calling out the bomb squad in the example cited earlier in this thread) result in a municipality spending thousands of dollars needlessly. Not a very good way to plead the case of geocaching being a fun and harmless sport. I guess I have spent too much tiresome time among online gamers and their clueless, trolling ways to find any humor whatsoever in cache containers like those ones above. Or perhaps I am just old and "too serious" haha!

 

But that said, I guess any type container discovered by someone without a clue about geocaching could arouse suspicions these days, however well marked.

[4wheelin_fool]

It wasn't a commercial product, but GC10PZ1 appears to have intentionally been made to look like a pipe bomb:

 

 

They have no other hides and no finds. Its a sock puppet from the bomb squad who was racking up some OT!

Edited January 1, 2013 by 4wheelin_fool

[+dbrierley]

Its a sock puppet from the bomb squad who was racking up some OT!

 

The owner of the grenade cache is using it as de facto advertising to sell the containers.

[+T.D.M.22]

Well since I live close too a British and Canadian base it would get blown up up by the bomb squad even if it is fake. And done we just takes too our local PD about a cache was thought too be an explosive someone would end up arrested. And that's best case scenario.

[Clan Riffster]

You can't judge something like this from a photograph.

I can make at least two sound judgements from that photograph:

1 ) It is a harmless piece of plastic.

2 ) There are folks out there who would believe it was a real grenade.

[+briansnat]

On the bottom of his page it says "Have any questions? Contact the shop owner." Yeah, I have a question for him, are you out of your bloomin' mind?

[+briansnat]

He wasn't kidding about hiding it either

http://coord.info/GC41P9H

[4wheelin_fool]

Its a sock puppet from the bomb squad who was racking up some OT!

 

The owner of the grenade cache is using it as de facto advertising to sell the containers.

 

I don't see any state tax ID # listed. They appear to be operating illegally out of Sellersburg Indiana without a valid business license.

[+MarkKer]

Just as a warning to all who think about buying one of these.

If you really place it and they find out who you are (and they will, there are geocaching cops out there as well), they'll make you pay for the bomb-squad's visit.

And that's anything between five and six digits, depending on whether they evacuate the area before they blow it up.

Edited January 1, 2013 by MarkKer

[+ShaunEM]

If I found this, I would take it with me and toss it in the trash. Probably inside another container to prevent a bomb scare in the city dump.

 

Shaun

[Mr.Yuck]

He wasn't kidding about hiding it either

http://coord.info/GC41P9H

 

Ruh-roh. An SBA has been posted. For the record, I said he had a pretty nice disclaimer about placement on his Etsy page.

[+BBWolf+3Pigs]

He wasn't kidding about hiding it either

http://coord.info/GC41P9H

 

Ruh-roh. An SBA has been posted. For the record, I said he had a pretty nice disclaimer about placement on his Etsy page.

 

And apparently deleted.

[+dbrierley]

The seller has changed the Etsy listing. According to the cached version of the page in Google, the first paragraph was:

 

Here is how to get a bang out of your next hide ! These little babies make quite the impression on the geocaching crowd. I call the one that I placed this weekend the "Pineapple Surprise" which is a nickname that were given to these type of hand grenades back in WWII.

 

Now, it's:

 

Here is how to get a bang out of your next hide !

[Keystone]

If someone told me that they hid a fake hand grenade a short distance away from a fire hydrant, I'd decline publication under the "appears to be a bomb" clause of the listing guidelines. Many hiders, however, are not so forthcoming. This one described their container as a "4 inch oval plastic container painted camo."

 

I hope the reviewer acts on the "needs archived" log. The Cache Owner may not know this, but deleting a "Needs Archived" log has no effect in terms of notifying the assigned reviewer for that area.

[+T.D.M.22]

I was thinking-someone could easily earn Darwin Award. I can see it now-

 

Cacher#1 "See, here's my cache. Hmm it feels heavier then I rememb-!!!BOOM!!!

 

Cacher#2 "Frank is this it? This toy grenade? Frank? Why are you splattered all over the place Frank??"

[+NeecesandNephews]

The CO may have deleted the N.A. but apparently cannot delete the hilarious addition of a bookmark list notation called "Bad Ideas, Bomb Scares, Ect." :laughing:

 

[niverson92]

but what if i painted it rainbow? like an easter egg!

[+wimseyguy]

[+Ma & Pa]

The CO may have deleted the N.A. but apparently cannot delete the hilarious addition of a bookmark list notation called "Bad Ideas, Bomb Scares, Ect." :laughing:

How many N.A. log has he deleted and will he have to delete?

[4wheelin_fool]

Although there have been too many bomb squad topics in these forums, I noticed that the last reported bomb in Washington in Mid October did not have a corresponding thread. Oddly, it was a large bison tube hanging on the back of a street sign in which someone called in as a hand grenade.

 

http://www.notaboutthenumbers.com/2012/10/12/grenade-cache-confuses-bomb-squad/

 

http://tdn.com/news/local/forest-geocache-site-triggers-call-to-bomb-squad/article_038272bc-11d8-11e2-8e96-0019bb2963f4.html

 

If the bomb squad is going to act on a large bison tube in the belief that its a bomb, then a fake hand grenade is definitely a bad idea.

 

Two weeks later another cache in Florida was blown up.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/bomb-squad-called-to-remove-pipe-bomb-in-boynton/nSqz6/

 

Another few days pass, and then a large PVC pipe stuffed down the barrel of a cannon in Indiana gets called in.

http://www.gcdailyworld.com/story/1890701.html

 

Only 2 hours away from the hand-grenade cache maker, and I cannot believe they haven't heard these stories...

 

In June, there was this one in Missouri

http://www.marshallnews.com/story/1862838.html

 

and another one in New Hampshire

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120612/NEWS07/120619959

 

In May, there was this one in Toronto

http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2012/05/10/pipe-bomb-scare-geocaching.html

 

April, it was Texas

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Suspicious-Device-Found-Near-Belt-Line-Prestonwood-149420335.html

 

In March, they thought it was a geocache in Disneyland

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/SDDisneyland-Shut-Down-Due-to-Suspicious-Item-141296953.html

 

In 2011:

 

Utah

http://www.standard.net/topics/bomb-scare/2011/06/28/bomb-squad-blows-suspicious-geocache

 

UK

http://techland.time.com/2011/07/06/u-k-town-brought-to-standstill-by-geocache-bomb/

 

North Carolina

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/09/geocaching-device-sets-outer-banks-bomb-scare

 

New York

http://ossining.patch.com/articles/geocache-causes-bomb-scare-by-peekskill-rail-tracks

 

Discussion in the Police forums

http://forums.officer.com/t167157/

Edited January 2, 2013 by 4wheelin_fool

[+T.D.M.22]

The cache with the "bad container" has been disabled.

 

At the request of my local reviewer, for whom I have the utmost respect, I am posting this note and disabling the listing. I know the fuss that it has caused for which I sincerely apologize and for the the geocaching community who have taken the time to write respectfully and with intelligence to inquire about the WHOLE story behind this listing, I have replied too. For the others who have written knee jerk responses and for whom I am ashamed are a part of the geocaching community I have not responded to because I do not engage in a battle of whits with unarmed opponents.

 

If you care to hear the whole story, then please read on:

 

I will try to explain myself here as brief as I can, but I feel that you deserve a response. I am new to geocaching (Sept.12') and only have 25 finds. I do however have over 50 caches placed. They all consist of what you see here on etsy, or at least the test models of what is now on etsy. I used my locals as test subjects until I found just right formula.

 

Many people around my area felt that I brought fresh ideas to some stale caches and many wanted to buy them. I started my etsy shop and the grenade was one of the first listings. Two weeks after I opened the shop, I placed one of these in a cache and called it "Pineapple surprise". I described exactly what it was and it passed the review and I got RAVE reviews from those who found it.

 

I asked my reviewer if he would mind checking out my products on etsy. He e-mailed me back and said he liked all of them except this one and explained the whole bomb threat deal and sent me links to articles etc and I replaced it the very same day with a quickly made bubble bottle cache and I went out to etsy and put the part in there about not placing in areas where it could cause confusion - get permission - put the yellow sticker on it... etc.

 

I know that most people would not believe me (and I am not sure you will either) but I know it to be fact and that is - I never even thought about it being a threat. It honestly never crossed my mind. You can call me naive, but I would rather think of it in the light that I don't have the mind of a terrorist or unabomber?

 

The 1st cache that I found was at a war memorial just blocks from my home and directly across the street from the courthouse, police and fire departments. It looked exactly like a pipe bomb! And, what better place to plant a pipe bomb? Even my 7 year old commented on it. I told her that the police and fire men knew it was there (because we have to ask permission - right?) and that it was o.k. My point is that that was MY FIRST experience into geocaching and it looked way more threatening then my plastic grenade.

 

Also, along that line of thinking. I feel that a lot of these e-mails that I am getting are very self righteous when coming from a group of people who use ammo boxes as their main containers and even show them in many of their logo's. I have also seen cache containers for sale that are hollowed out shotgun shells and other "threatening" looking containers like "soda forms" "Wizzbangs" and "bison logs" and I have even seen some that are red with TNT on the side?.

 

So that brings up to this weekend when this whole thing went viral and I was getting 300 hits a day on that one listing and orders were piling in, some as far away as France!

 

The bottom line is this. I may have been naive when buying these and converting them into geocaches. I am not a wealthy man and I feel that I should be able to recoup my investment. I feel that we can't hold people's hands and if someone really wants to cause mayhem with this container then that is the fault of the person and you can't blame the container or the maker? People have to take responsibility for themselves.

 

I would like to apologize once more to the geocaching community as a whole and to my local reviewer, who has endured a lot of headache over my mistake. I love the sport and did not mean to cause it harm.

Edited January 2, 2013 by T.D.M.22

[4wheelin_fool]

So he's still selling them, and is armed with whits, as well as fake grenades ?

[+wimseyguy]

Nice reply, but I think he's still a bit whitless.

Perhaps he can refill the tubes with energy drinks and sell them at his kids soccer games instead?

[+K13]

So he's still selling them, and is armed with whits, as well as fake grenades ?

 

And if you want one, just follow the link in OP.

 

BTW, those things are (as my son used to say) ... theBOMB.com/awesome!!

[+NeecesandNephews]

WARNING- turn down the alarm volume on your sarcasm meter before reading this!!!!!!!

 

"People have to take responsibility for themselves."

 

Wow!! I guess he really meant "other people". I have a hard time finding "taking responsibility" in what was posted.

I clearly see denial, justification, excuses, insults, entitlement, ect... Responsibility??? I'm just not seeing it.

 

So... I suppose...if I get a great deal on a few cases of spray paint for a project I am working on... find I only needed a few cans... I can feel good about setting up a website directed at "gangbangers" pointing out the wonderful uses for spray paint, the fantastic deal they can get, and then say "I can't control what they do with it. People have to take responsibility for themselves??" I mean I am entitled to recoup my investment right?? I'm not rich!!!

 

Man ... is my previous way of thinking ever messed up. This changes everything.

 

edit to add- "previous way of" I am now among the "enlightened"

Edited January 2, 2013 by NeecesandNephews

[+MountainWoods]

I was thinking-someone could easily earn Darwin Award. I can see it now-

 

Cacher#1 "See, here's my cache. Hmm it feels heavier then I rememb-!!!BOOM!!!

 

Cacher#2 "Frank is this it? This toy grenade? Frank? Why are you splattered all over the place Frank??"

We lose more Franks that way!!!!

[+Torchwood Four]

No, the worst idea for a geocache container would be one that utilizes the cloaca of a live alligator as an enclosure.

 

But this would rank a close second.

[4wheelin_fool]

Nice reply, but I think he's still a bit whitless.

 

The whits appear to be as genuine as the hand grenades.

[+Torchwood Four]

Unfortunately, I think we're going to see the backlash against geocachers continue to increase as the game becomes more popular, thanks mostly to the hysterical obsession the West has developed with terrorism. There have been a couple of instances where we've been interrogated in public places for doing nothing more than staring at a bush for too long, and with the DHS now engaging in leaflet campaigns like this one basically encouraging people to mash 911 every time they see something unusual, I fear caching is going to become an increasingly difficult diversion to enjoy. Guys doing crap like using hand grenades for cache containers doesn't help matters.

[Mr.Yuck]

I do not engage in a battle of whits with unarmed opponents.

 

Ya' know, sometimes you don't realize the significance of things when they first happen, or shortly thereafter. This has the potential to be legendary. I'm not saying "why does my post say Ringbone?" legendary, but hey, you never know.

[Keystone]

Here's where the cache owner lost all credibility with me:

Many people around my area felt that I brought fresh ideas to some stale caches and many wanted to buy them. I started my etsy shop and the grenade was one of the first listings. Two weeks after I opened the shop, I placed one of these in a cache and called it "Pineapple surprise". I described exactly what it was and it passed the review and I got RAVE reviews from those who found it.

(Emphasis in bold is mine)

 

Let me repeat what I posted before:

If someone told me that they hid a fake hand grenade a short distance away from a fire hydrant, I'd decline publication under the "appears to be a bomb" clause of the listing guidelines. Many hiders, however, are not so forthcoming. This one described their container as a "4 inch oval plastic container painted camo."

When engaging in a battle of whits, do not dhistort the fhacts.

[nonaeroterraqueous]

I do not engage in a battle of whits with unarmed opponents.

 

Ya' know, sometimes you don't realize the significance of things when they first happen, or shortly thereafter. This has the potential to be legendary. I'm not saying "why does my post say Ringbone?" legendary, but hey, you never know.

 

He's just talking about a conflict among very small things. A battle of whits is like a land-grab among nano enthusiasts on a power trail.

 

When engaging in a battle of whits, do not dhistort the fhacts.

 

It was a malapropism, not a Ms. Pelling.