Cache Bust!

July 30, 2002

The red face it REAL! I was nabbed at the Yankin My Chain Cache on Fresno State by campus police. They said that they had been watching the area due to suspicious activity and it was one of the darkest areas on the campus. They seemed to think it was drug related or some sort of pre-terrorist act. They were perplexed and confused with my explanation - which was the truth. Bottom line: they cached out the cache and confiscated the contents "to show the sargent". I was released on my own recognizance. I was very embarrassed. I want to publicly apologize to the owner for this tragedy. It really was an excellently placed cache. It was truly unfortunate and embarrassing. I am very sorry.

Also, please note, the Hardy Boys are probably watching it even more closely to see who misses it! Recommend total abandonment of the site.

I invite any comments or criticisms.

5k · July 30, 2002

Trellan,

Do you have a link to the cache? I couldn't find it... it may already be archived.

Anyway, not knowing exactly what happened, it's hard to comment. But, assuming all you were doing was normal caching, I see no reason to be "embarrassed." I highly doubt you were trespassing or doing anything else illegal. The cache may or may not be within the rules of the campus, although I doubt they could show you a rule forbidding it.

I'm guessing they will realize it was a misunderstanding. Keep up updated... and don't forget the link.

Jamie

July 30, 2002

I am new to geocaching and already I understand your problem. My most recent find was also on a college campus, and while I wasn't nabbed I did feel unconfortable poking around. Being 42 & balding I look more like freshkill than a freshman. I have encountered two people on previous hunts that were curious about what was happening. (I am still learning to be descreet)

To help explain what Geocaching is all about, and to maybe help smooth over any future run-ins with authority, I found this explanation of the sport on another site. I keep several copies of this article along with Geocaching.com link printed on the bottom as a public relations handout as such.

I hope this helps. Here's a link to the article:

http://www.spatialnews.com/features/geocache.html

Cachercarry

Jackson, MS

I'm here because I'm not all there

July 30, 2002

I would not be embarassed either or even apologetic for anything. You may just have been engaging in an activity that Campus Police and certain people on campus may not understand.

It has been a long time since I was a college student but it sounds to me like campus police noticed suspicious activity or somebody reported traffic or activity that they didn't understand and thought suspicious. They may have just been keeping an eye out to find out what was going on and you are the one that they zeroed in on. The cache may have been turned over to a dean or somebody and the owner has probably been notified. At least I hope that is the case. Ideally that person, A fellow student, faculty member... or somebody should have a dialog with the university and iron out this issue explaining what it is about. Seeing how harmless, I assume there was no contriband or other objectionable items in the cache, the situation is they will probably learn something positive about a new diversion that students are engaging in on campus. Of course, regarding items in the cache, You never know with college kids what they might put in there.

Maybe, once they are informed of what GeoCaching is all about there might need to be some consideration of some rules that may need to be followed. On a college campus some places can be a little different than on typical public lands. Areas around dormatories and libraries or other buildings and locations might be of concern to the university. Also, it might be one thing if it is students that are engaging in caching at the site but if strangers from in town or accross the country are wandering through, there may be more sensitivity. As I recall about my years at a State University, the administration and staff often had a somewhat extreme and, sometimes, oversensitive concern for the privacy, safety and well being of their students.

Like I said, hopefully this is just the beginning of an understanding. With the youth of this game, we will probably be noticing a lot more incidents like yours around towns, parks, cities, beaches etc. as those who don't know what we are doing learn what this is all about. Some officials might not know if we are spies hiding payoffs and picking up messages, druggies hiding stashes or whatever. By the nature of the game we should realize that we are engaging in the very same acts as the above mentioned, and other possible, examples. It is all in our intent and purpose that is different. Until more people know about GeoCaching and understand it as a game and outdoor sport or activity, A puzzle or challenge, TREASURE HUNTING, we are bound to attract the suspicions and attention of others. I haven't gotten out to look for my first cache yet but I already get some of those looks from people who I tell about it. Many of them think I am nuts.

July 30, 2002

I would not be embarassed either or even apologetic for anything. You may just have been engaging in an activity that Campus Police and certain people on campus may not understand.

It has been a long time since I was a college student but it sounds to me like campus police noticed suspicious activity or somebody reported traffic or activity that they didn't understand and thought suspicious. They may have just been keeping an eye out to find out what was going on and you are the one that they zeroed in on. The cache may have been turned over to a dean or somebody and the owner has probably been notified. At least I hope that is the case. Ideally that person, A fellow student, faculty member... or somebody should have a dialog with the university and iron out this issue explaining what it is about. Seeing how harmless, I assume there was no contriband or other objectionable items in the cache, the situation is they will probably learn something positive about a new diversion that students are engaging in on campus. Of course, regarding items in the cache, You never know with college kids what they might put in there.

Maybe, once they are informed of what GeoCaching is all about there might need to be some consideration of some rules that may need to be followed. On a college campus some places can be a little different than on typical public lands. Areas around dormatories and libraries or other buildings and locations might be of concern to the university. Also, it might be one thing if it is students that are engaging in caching at the site but if strangers from in town or accross the country are wandering through, there may be more sensitivity. As I recall about my years at a State University, the administration and staff often had a somewhat extreme and, sometimes, oversensitive concern for the privacy, safety and well being of their students.

Like I said, hopefully this is just the beginning of an understanding. With the youth of this game, we will probably be noticing a lot more incidents like yours around towns, parks, cities, beaches etc. as those who don't know what we are doing learn what this is all about. Some officials might not know if we are spies hiding payoffs and picking up messages, druggies hiding stashes or whatever. By the nature of the game we should realize that we are engaging in the very same acts as the above mentioned, and other possible, examples. It is all in our intent and purpose that is different. Until more people know about GeoCaching and understand it as a game and outdoor sport or activity, A puzzle or challenge, TREASURE HUNTING, we are bound to attract the suspicions and attention of others. I haven't gotten out to look for my first cache yet but I already get some of those looks from people who I tell about it. Many of them think I am nuts.

July 30, 2002

I think we have to respect the situation we are in when caching.

College campuses worry, bluntly, about rape. At least they did when I was in college. Now they worry about abduction and murder, too...

If you are not of college age, and are wandering around a campus, especially at night off of normal paths, etc., you can bet the campus police will investigate. And the honest answer is: they should!

I don't think any amount of explaining Geocaching will help them from investigating you, because they still have to do so. If you can convince them you are a Geocacher - good for you, but you have to realize the situation they are in, and therefore you are in. In fact, the more cachers they find, the more they'll be annoyed, because they have to investigate every case brought to their attention - and the cachers being found as 'decent people, but having to be investigated' will just be overhead for them - they can't assume "they're okay if they have a GPS"

Explore college campuses during the day - don't go to caches near dormatories, etc...

YES, I'd love to cache everywhere and be trusted. But until every cacher is willing to leave a cache in their home, and leave their door unlocked for any cachers wandering by, we really shouldn't be surprised that areas like campuses have to be treated with care.

Now, in no way am I saying that the cacher posting this note is doing nothing but the up-and-up and is not an excellent example of a participant in our shared activity.

I'm just saying that, especially with schools and such, we should expect that there are certain areas where people really have a vested interest in make sure we are given a hard time, and that's the way the world is... SIGH!!!

July 30, 2002