Fear Of Getting "busted"

1.3k · January 31, 2004

This is not an attack on urban micros, or any other type of cache or hiding style. I am curious to see if other cachers might pass on caches that put them in very public locations. I personally would rather seek urban caches with high "exposure" with a friend or two. (Nobody want's to be alone when they get carted off to jail.) :rolleyes: How many of you are as paranoid as I am about getting hassled for acting strangely while hunting a cache in a public place? Would this cause you to stop your search?

Once again, I'm not suggesting that anything needs to be "done" to "fix" the situation. There is nothing wrong with these types of caches. I have skipped a couple of caches that made me feel uncomfortable and returned later. I just want to know how cachers feel when hunting caches in high traffic areas.

38.2k · January 31, 2004

Busted by whom? There is nothing illegal about searching around a public place. My only worry would be if the cache were placed in a spot that is illegal for me to be, in which case I'd pass on it.

1.7k · January 31, 2004

If a cache require an obvious search right in the epublic view, I'll usually skip it. (Like looking under a park bench, crawling along statuary or stone walls, etc.)

I don't want geomuggles to see me and then grab the cache when I am done.

(That is what I would mean by "busted".)

Edited January 31, 2004 by DustyJacket

1.3k · January 31, 2004

There certainly isn't anything wrong with searching around public places, but that doesn't mean it won't draw the unwanted attention of nosy bystanders, or overzealous law enforcement. These people are trained to look for anything out of the ordinary. I'd rather not do anyting to draw attention to myself. Given a choice between having to explain my (perfectly legal, yet highly suspicious) behavior to a cop or passing on a cache, I pass.

January 31, 2004

I'd be more concerned with compromising the cache location than getting caught. I've passed up a few because of the high traffic in the area, which if I would have searched, would have alerted non-players to its location.

But, if someone has placed a cache in an illegal area, I wouldn't break a law to get to it.

3.5k · January 31, 2004

There are two urban micros that I have refused to look for because I didn't want to look too...ummm...weird.

One is a magnetic altoids strip container hidden somewhere on a jet that's parked at a county courthouse. I'll go back for that one when I can take my kids along and pretend to be showing them the jet.

The other is behind a building on a nearby university campus. When I went there on a week day, I could see people looking out their office windows. I'll wait and come back on a weekend sometime.

The other option is to dress and act like there is "something wrong with you." You'll be officially declared as invisible and then can do whatever you want! :rolleyes:

Bret

24.7k · January 31, 2004

It depends. In a park with bunches of people. No, as long as they are doing their thing and I'm doing mine it's ok. Under an office window... No way.

2.7k · January 31, 2004

I'm very leary of doing urban caches. My preference is to plant and find them in the hills.

3.1k · January 31, 2004

I'm not breaking the law looking for a cache. I've been stopped by a cop while looking. All I did was explain to him what the game was about and then show him the cache page printout. I then invited him to participate but he declined.

1.3k · January 31, 2004

I fear I'm going to give away the cache location.

Then I shrug my shoulders and look anyway.

January 31, 2004

If there was a lot of muggle traffic I would wait a little while and see if it cleared up. I am not too patient though. If it was near my home I would just come back some other time. If I was a long way away from home and out looking I might have to be more daring.

6.5k · January 31, 2004

<snip> How many of you are as paranoid as I am about getting hassled for acting strangely while hunting a cache in a public place? Would this cause you to stop your search?<snip>

<snip> I have skipped a couple of caches that made me feel uncomfortable and returned later. <snip>

I think this is part of the fun and challange of hunting these caches. :rolleyes:

It certainly is the major fun for hiding them. <_<

1.1k · January 31, 2004

While searching for a traditional near a car wash one of the employees caught me snooping around. I thought I was busted, then he said "You on the scavenger hunt?"

As far as the police go, I haven't worried about it. Worse case scenario you get a cop who doesn't "get it". Big deal. :rolleyes:

January 31, 2004

I do them they just make me feel nervous. But no more so then say an night time hunt in a cemetary alone three miles in the woods.

4.4k · January 31, 2004

The ARTof Geocaching

This is what I like to do,be very discrete in those situations,the more the better.

You know finding something right in view of people without being seen,is a challenging experience.

I guess that comes from training though.

I find it to be exillerating at the least and the adrenalin rush as well.

Each cacher has his own forte though.

I have done it lots of times then go and talk to the people as well,not a clue what was going on,unless I tell them about geocaching.

January 31, 2004

There certainly isn't anything wrong with searching around public places, but that doesn't mean it won't draw the unwanted attention of nosy bystanders, or overzealous law enforcement. These people are trained to look for anything out of the ordinary. I'd rather not do anyting to draw attention to myself. Given a choice between having to explain my (perfectly legal, yet highly suspicious) behavior to a cop or passing on a cache, I pass.

Same here. Urban caches aren't my thing.

I also think people are going to think I'm a drug dealer and that is some "drop."

Edited January 31, 2004 by SamLowrey

January 31, 2004

I'm not breaking the law looking for a cache. I've been stopped by a cop while looking. All I did was explain to him what the game was about and then show him the cache page printout. I then invited him to participate but he declined.

Personally, I would take that as a loss, which is why I don't risk it. We don't need people associating suspicious behavior with geocaching.

January 31, 2004

:rolleyes:

I have always had a problem being discrete getting the cache in really public areas, so now I wear a disguise! If you can't be discrete, then go the other route. I put on a glow-in-the-dark safety vest (the kind the utility companies all wear) tall rubber boots, (it's wet here in the winter)and hunt away. There are so many surveyers, water, power, sewage, utility people checking for things that no body really checks to find out which one you are. I walk around with my GPS in full view, just like I was looking for a hidden pipe or something. I have even been thinking about steciling a Geosurvey or Geocache Inspector on the back of my vest. When I grab the cache I look around first and snatch it when no one is looking. Usually Urban cache sites are near parking so I take the cache to my car and log in. Lately I also carry a small cone and place it by my car to add to the scene. Don't look sneaky. That will attract more attention then if you look like you are going about your regular business, which you are- geocaching! The police aren't interested either unless you are parked in a no parking zone or are doing something you shouldn't be. <_<

January 31, 2004

There are so many surveyers, water, power, sewage, utility people checking for things that no body really checks to find out which one you are. I walk around with my GPS in full view, just like I was looking for a hidden pipe or something.
.

.

Don't look sneaky. That will attract more attention then if you look like you are going about your regular business, which you are- geocaching!

Yeah, without the costume, that is the air I try to put on. I live in a college town and could pass as a student, so I hope people will think I am doing some research on the local flora and fauna.

February 1, 2004

We're not worried about questions from authority - we'd just explain what we're doing.

If a cache is placed in an area with so many people that it's impossible to retrieve/hide it without being seen, then we just get on with it and be seen. If a muggle's going to get it, they're going to get it. The hider should have been more careful!

One particular cache stands out which was under the main access brigde between a car-park and a popular castle. There was absolutely no time at all that anything could be done without observation.

Cheers,

Stu

1.3k · February 1, 2004

My friend dresses up in a clown suit, and he has a horn and other noise makers. While he is stomping around in his big shoes making noise, I go and grab the cache. Works perfect! :mad:

7.3k · February 1, 2004

I have been to some pretty exposed caches...and a lot of them seem to have been done by someone going by the name of Ish-n-Isha. If we were not such good friends, I would have been a little more upset at them.

One of his caches had me smack dab in the middle of a bus depot. :mad: I had some very wierd people staring at me. In fact one was freaking me out so much that I had to leave and come back later. :mad:

Ironicaly, in spite of my adverse feelings to exposed urban caches, I have placed three of them. Go figure.

One of them has had many, many, comments on how exposed it is.

But the other one has been commended for being exposed. This is the link to it:

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=49386

It is called Sneaky...Very Sneaky. The whole point is to be like a secret agent, and not get caught. I put very specific instructions on how to retreive it, and so far everyone has enjoyed it and had a good time. I am very suprised that it has lasted over a year. I actually only expected it to last a week. But that's the weird thing- you can put out exposed caches and expect them to be comprimised right away, and then you can put a cache out in the middle of nowhere, and it dissapears.

So I guess every cache has to be looked at individually. Some exposed caches can be fun and exciting, and some can be downright nasty. You just have to judge for yourself, and decide whether or not to do them.

1.3k · February 1, 2004

I don't think it matters if they are nasty, or fun and exciting. If they are exposed and they last, I say give props to the hider. Just because the finders (me included) may not be skilled enough to grab it without being caught, thats something we have to work on. I love all the urban caches, even if I am cursing the hider when there are so man muggles around.

February 2, 2004

A fellow I know around here prints out the cache sheets and carries them on a clipboard. He claims (and I believe him), that you look way official carrying a clipboard. The first time I met him we were both doing a multi in a large park and I automatically assumed he was with the park management, thus the clipboard worked on me.

February 2, 2004

Yea I passed on this one...

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...03-241d9a7b8277

"Was not able to look...to much traffic....someone pulled up and parked and sit in their car 3 ft from where the cache was to be. I think this area has to much traffic for a cache. I came back later and there was still to many people. Very Busy."

February 2, 2004

Do you pass on exposed caches?

Nope, but I pass on exposing myself at caches!

February 2, 2004

Nope. I just try to look "official" and act like I know what I'm doing. Sometimes it takes a little creativity. The hard part is putting the cache back, gotta make sure that no one is paying attention to you then.

1.8k · February 2, 2004

I did one of these which was hidden at a train station near O'Hare. I ended up waiting around in my car until the commuters cleared out. Meanwhile I spotted the only place the micro could be hidden.

I did the casual walk up to the spot, reached my hand into where I though it would be, grabbed it, then kept walking. I signed the log back in my car, then did the sneaky thing to put it back.

I think the trick is to not stand around the cache site with a stack of maps and your GPSr and whatnot and log it right there.

February 2, 2004

Nope. I just try to go there when no one else will be around, or very few people will be around.... sometimes this means getting up earlier in the morning than I would like. But even this doesn't work sometimes... I went to do maintenance on one of my own urban micros the other morning at 5:30 in the dark AM and had trouble getting to it unobserved...

I posted this note:

February 1 by mozartman (28 found)

5:45 AM in the dark on a Sunday, and there are people cleaning up this plaza! I had to wait for leaf-blower boy and his suspicious superviser to leave the area. they were watching me. Walked around the block, came back and they were gone. I put a new logsheet in, and it's wrapped in a ziplock bag which hopefully will keep it drier than before. Happy Caching!

--Mozartman

February 2, 2004

YES.......and I'll never go to this one...

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...7a-2e2b63a4798b

It is on the Indian Reservation and there is a lady Ranger (tribal police) that charges you $5.00 if she catches you there. They have even been known to confiscate the vehicles of people they catch on their land. (no Geocachers yet). The rest of the story is that their big Indian Casino is very near by and they don't charge you if you are caught there. If you read the logs...there have been people that either pay the money or just leave. I'm not even sure why this cache was approved. It is the 4th location on my list and I wish there were a way to ignore it. On the other hand...I don't think I would mind paying a day use fee if there were a couple of caches in a state park or designated fee area.

February 2, 2004

[...]If a cache is placed in an area with so many people that it's impossible to retrieve/hide it without being seen, then we just get on with it and be seen. If a muggle's going to get it, they're going to get it. The hider should have been more careful![...]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Hash: SHA1

I have to respectfully take issue with your reasoning here.

Logging a find isn't simply a matter of finding the cache and being

able to physically get to it. You have to be able to retrieve the

cache and sign the log book WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE CACHE. That's

part of the challenge of geocaching.

There have been a few occasions where I have given up on a cache

because of the risk of compromising the cache location, sometime even

after spotting the cache. Of those, there have been several that I

rethought and came back either at a less busy time or with a better

strategy for not being spotted. There have been plenty of examples of

good tactics in this thread. Here is

one I used..

Some caches are hard to get to for other reasons (mountaintops) and

some because they are in a busy location. If you don't like that sort

of cache, then don't hunt that kind; there are plenty of others out

there. And if, in fact, there is a problem with retrieving the cache

unobserved (or at least unnoticed) I feel you should leave it alone

and log a not found or a note with an explanation. I don't think it's

fair to blame the hider's choice of location as an excuse for being

careless and possibly compromising their cache.

John

Team Shredded Bark

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February 2, 2004

QUOTE: SamLowrey,Jan 31 2004, 10:36 AM

"I also think people are going to think I'm a drug dealer and that is some "drop.""

I couldn't help but think of a cache that I did back in Oct, 2002: The cache name was EATING CROW. This was probably the most interesting cache that I had a problem replacing after finding. (See my log entry below.) I'm sure the two young men and girl thought I was a drug dealer. I was shabbily dressed, had on a Bud Light baseball cap, unshaven, had on sunglasses and was carrying a gun strapped to my belt. I suspect that the trio saw me grab the cache and then sit on the park bench. They were about eighty feet away from me. The girl, I believe, was probably sent over by the guys to see what I was up to. She was very friendly and made a point of trying to see the black Altoids tin that was tucked up against my leg on the bench. I suspected that they thought I had just made a drug-grab and was hoping I would share my score. As you read below, they were involved in some heavy sex and didn't mind me watching! (I mean sitting on the bench minding my own business).

EATING CROW log entry:

October 22, 2002 by RandMan (398 found)

When I arrived, the park was empty except for two guys and a girl who were involved in a threesome at the picnic table area. I figured they were busy, so I grabbed the cache when I thought they weren't looking. Unfortunately, after I signed the log, they seemed to be watching me continuously. My presence didn't seem to bother them though! The girl even came up to me twice (on her visits to the restroom) to say hello and carry on some light conversations. I waited around for about forty-five minutes in hopes they would finish and leave - but they didn't. I left with the cache - and did another cache close by. When I came back, they were still there! This time I went out for breakfast. After breakfast, I stopped back by and was able to replace the cache.

I took the key chain and left an 'I'm a friend of Jimmy Hoffa' button. Thank you, Team Evil Fish. This is probably one of my most interesting attempts in trying to rehide a cache yet!

Rand

Edited February 2, 2004 by RandMan

February 2, 2004

What about this cache? It's right in front of the placer's front yard -- in the park strip. AND it's a micro that takes lots of searching. I felt so conspicuous (neighbors watching) that I didn't look long enough to find the cache or to say it was missing (so I didn't log a DNF).

That being said... I have heard that over 60% of the caches here in Silicon Valley are micros, and I know that at least that percentage of the caches around here are urban ones. But some make me feel weirder than others!

3.5k · February 2, 2004

Odd thing, but I have noticed on a couple of occasions that wearing my Green Geocaching Hat and my caching vest seems to make me look official and get a "pass" on any odd activity. It's happened a few times in small city parks that people just sorta smile and wave at me like I'm supposed to be there. Once my brother-in-law and I were heading to a cache along a trail when some people coming our way made the comment, "We better be good, the rangers are here." Rangers? I dunno, I guess the hat makes it work.

I like the clipboard idea too. That'd probably help.

Bret

Edited February 2, 2004 by CYBret

3.9k · February 2, 2004

I have to say I like urban micros. Although I've gotten skunked on them a few times. I prefer a traditional in a park but Urban's are fun BECAUSE of the fact that you need to be so stealthy. Urban micro are even more fun to hide IMO. It's a challenge to see how creative I can be. I've got a couple of evil ones coming up soon. I would only pass on one if it was extremely busy and there was no way to grab it without compromising the location.

Oh yea. I've used the clip board trick too. Add a 100 foot tape measure and you'll look like a surveyor. Also, I haven't tried this yet but, If someone asks what you're doing. Tell them you are scouting out the area for a movie location for Miramax.

Edited February 2, 2004 by JMBella

February 2, 2004

Most urban micros I don't like, especially those that aren't in parks. I have seen micros that have been in parking lots or on the side of a building. I had never been stopped by the police in my 14 months of geocaching, until this weekend, in which I was stopped twice! Once was on the grounds of a mental hospital, where despite being close to the road, the public isn't allowed anywhere on the grounds of the hospital for the protection of the patients. It was a 5-stage multi, and I was caught on stage 2 recording information from what appeared to be a monument. The police had not known about it, though they said they chased away some people before, and from their descrption it appeared to be geocachers as well. They said that the public is not allowed and told me to leave. When I got home I requested the cache to be archived, and right now it is. I also was questioned by police at a cemetery when someone heard noise from the woods when I fell in some briars. On this cache, the police were fine with it.

Fear Of Getting "busted"

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