Hello everybody, I was wondering what do you do in this situation. I been in only one abandoned place and that was last week, I went to a prison, I went alone (I hope I can go with more people but my friend don't like this kind of stuff or they are to afraid from the police and I can't find a group or somebody to join) so, I was alone on the second floor of the main building of the prison and a door close very hard some where (yes I freak out) but I didn't run, in that minute I was in a complete dark room with my flashlight and I decided to turn the flashlight off put my backpack with camera and other thing in one corner of the room under a table so nobody can see it and I went to the other corner of the room and I stayed there for like 10 minutes trying to hear voices, steps or any noise, finally I hear that same door closing like 5 times in those 10 minutes. The door was closing that hard because of the wind. So, let's say.... Somebody or more people was in that building or they get in when you are already inside, what do you do in that situation? Wait and see who it is? (can be nice people doing the same I'm doing or can be drug dealers or idiots who decided to go in and destroy the place) Say HELOOO? Or just leave? What do you do in that situation? I'm asking this to be prepared.

Thanks and sorry for my bad English.

It's happened to me before, it all depends on the situation. I used to approach everyone with an extended hand and a friendly smile, until one time recently when it turned out to be a cop. Now I usually just either try to get a glimpse from a distance of who it is or just call it a day and head out. I was in a hospital alone in a shitty neighborhood once and I heard the same thing you did, loud doors slamming. This hospital, however, had a reputation. It was told to an explorer (and demonstrated on another) that if you were caught inside by the caretakers, you got your ass kicked. I kinda wish I had a picture of how my face looked after the second loud door slam. Probably would be pretty damn funny.

Well, in my experience, you should always be friendly. If it's security, they probably won't call the cops. If it's a homeless person, their reactions will vary, but won't be too extreme. If it's a fellow explorer, you might have just found a partner if you hit it off right. And if it's a serial killer, you're gonna have a bad time. In summary, just be a nice guy and people SHOULD be nice or at least tolerant. Happy exploring!

be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet


(just kidding its a humorous quote)

I usually stay silent for a while and peek around a corner to see who it is, in 90% of the cases it were fellow explorers or local kids. Never found a bum inside and I think that's kinda weird, why do these guys rather sleep on a piece of cardboard on the streets?

Guards don't go into buildings here, police probably will if they got a call that you're a thief or something but that never happened to me. If you do meet a guard or police inside I think it's best to run if you can get away relatively unnoticed, else just walk up to them and explain yourself.

As for people with bad intentions, my philosophy is to not show fear. I always act like I'm the one who belongs there and they don't. I've scared off copper thieves and vandals that way, in other cases we just both carried on doing what we were doing. Of course if they carry weapons or something you can better get the hell out of there.

Be friendly, don't be hostile. They're probably just kids messing around, photographers or explorers. If you're friendly, they'll be friendly. In my experience, I've ended up talking with them and sharing information about the location.

I don't think this place has security (good for us), the only think I read was: people saying the cops Park for a couple of minutes and leave (the parking lot also is a place you can read those huge sings with all the history of that prison so is completely legal to park in that prison and walk around) but, for a cop who has the key from the locks they put there, they need to take out a very heavy cell door (I guessing they took part of the cells bars and put it there to cover the main door of the prison). The most funny part a couple year ago one of the building get on fire and nobody open the door so the fire trucks can get in, the Firefighters use that long arm from the truck to go over the 26 foot wall. The Firefighter was saying... This is the first time I'm trying to break in into a prison.

For people using the building (not security) I think it's fine to approach them if you can be reasonably sure of your safety.

I've ran into squatters a couple times, and they'll generally leave you alone unless you're being an ass. It's important to remember that these people live where you're trying to explore, so it's a nice gesture to be kind to their areas. In my experience, they can also lend some helpful info about the site. Some of the same rules, for me, apply to dealers and gang members -- approach with a smile if you must approach, but be wary.

Security is the same way, to an extent. If you're caught somewhere you're not supposed to be, most of 'em couldn't be bothered to call the cops unless you're being uncooperative. Just don't be a dick-- if they ask you to leave, leave --and you'll get along fine. It's just their job, after all.

Just don't be a dick-- if they ask you to leave, leave --and you'll get along fine. It's just their job, after all.

I agree with you,I'm a very respectful person but I need to say the cops from that city I used to live they are a complete ass. Hope they never catch me I'm really not finish with this prison, Last time i didn't find the way to get to the cell blocks, after checking all the photos and videos I took and watching videos online I finally find out how to get there and the best part is getting thru this cell blocks I have access to the yard where they are all the building of the prison.

I carry a pack of cigs and sometimes snacks to give to hobos/random people we meet. I don't smoke myself, but it tends to diffuse potentially hostile encounters.

My experiences have been mixed. I have found homeless people are about 50/50 between being very cool to batshit crazy. Either way being calm, respectful and nice have always gotten me through. Gangs are another story. I always approach whoever I encounter but stash my camera gear deep in my bag before doing so.

What we do is inherently dangerous just from the site itself. Johnny Law, and trigger happy land owners don't make it easier. Dealing with people who are just as willing to share these same risks but for different reasons as you only compounds the danger. But hey, isn't that thrill and the experience itself why we do it?

Posted by EsseXploreR It's happened to me before, it all depends on the situation. I used to approach everyone with an extended hand and a friendly smile, until one time recently when it turned out to be a cop. Now I usually just either try to get a glimpse from a distance of who it is or just call it a day and head out. I was in a hospital alone in a shitty neighborhood once and I heard the same thing you did, loud doors slamming. This hospital, however, had a reputation. It was told to an explorer (and demonstrated on another) that if you were caught inside by the caretakers, you got your ass kicked. I kinda wish I had a picture of how my face looked after the second loud door slam. Probably would be pretty damn funny.

Hahahaha!!! Would that be Orange, bro? What a shithole! A buddy of mine got nabbed by the gangsta-thugs that own that dumpster and had a very unpleasant scenario unfold on his ass. It was marginally cool and all but not worth all THAT bullshit!
Once and done! We spent a good five hours there and had no problems. Luckily for us there was a four-alarm fire a few blocks away and the neighborhood was empty. They were all watching the blaze.

We ran into a scrapper over the summer. He was in the process of loading some very large steel beams into his truck when we approached. He was startled to see us, but I explained what we were doing and he gave us a smile and a wave then went about his business.
We talked briefly on the way out. I gave him a smoke and some of my water. He told us a bit about the property across the street where we were headed next. He had scrapped out of there for years before someone bought it and had it cleared out.

If it's a person who is obviously not supposed to be there (scrapper, squatter, a fellow explorer, etc.) chances are quite high that they will leave you alone. If it appears to be a property owner, security or police I would hide or run if you have yet to be spotted. If they have already seen you just talk to them, be polite and maintain good eye contact. Whatever you do DO NOT run from the police if they have already spotted you. If you get caught, and you will, they will be MUCH less forgiving towards you.

I'm new to exploring and have been thinking about this since I read the property owners thread. I really like the tips from more experienced folks so thanks for bringing up this topic.

I did have a run-in with a sheriff's deputy as a teen while goofing off in an abandoned school in the middle of the night (we just looked around and took pictures and tried to spook ourselves, didn't destroy or vandalize anything). We didn't try to run, we were extremely apologetic, and he just asked us to leave. But we were three young girls in tears so that might have played a role in him taking pity on us. I think I would be the way same way now, unless I was 99% confident that I could make an escape, because I'm afraid getting caught after running/hiding would make it much worse - not just in terms of legal consequences but also in terms of their reactions (my dad and brother are both in law enforcement and it can be scary for them - they don't know what they're getting into, for all they know you are extremely dangerous and up to no good).

But during the daytime at that same school (I spent way too much time there....not much to do at home), I met someone who was into urban exploration - he told us where to view his photos online, and that's how I discovered this is actually a thing! So benefits can come from being friendly to strangers you encounter!

With homeless people, while I haven't encountered them yet while exploring, I did work with them at an old job with a non-profit organization and personally I think just treating them like human beings goes a long way in many scenarios, maybe this one too...love the tip of offering a cigarette or something. It has certainly led to interesting conversations in daily life just walking down a city street. But some are dangerous (I mean, some of them are homeless because of untreated mental illness) and I think that's important to stay cautious.

I kind of think it depends on YOU too. A big burly guy verses a young girl will have to take different things into consideration when running into others during an explore.

I was on a rooftop of a skyscraper and was about to head down, after getting a little paranoid at seeing a helicopter make 3 passes in a circle around the building I was on top of.

When I made it to the roof hatch, I heard voices from below but couldn't make out anything they were saying. But I could tell they were getting closer. Not sure if I was about to be arrested, I just waited for the people to come up. It turned out to be a group of 5-6 20 something year olds with some beer and weed.

Fun night lol


We also encountered a group of like 6-8 people on the roof of a hospital one night, they saw us walking through the courtyard and took off we saw them jumping a fence and running back to their cars as fast as they could.

Posted by Radical_Ed Hahahaha!!! Would that be Orange, bro? What a shithole! A buddy of mine got nabbed by the gangsta-thugs that own that dumpster and had a very unpleasant scenario unfold on his ass. It was marginally cool and all but not worth all THAT bullshit! Once and done! We spent a good five hours there and had no problems. Luckily for us there was a four-alarm fire a few blocks away and the neighborhood was empty. They were all watching the blaze. http://imagizer.im...q90/908/97MbqU.jpg

Sure was! It was probably slightly more worth it when you shot it. But in the state its in now I'd never go back in there. Orange is king shithole now that Preakness is out of the picture.

Citron Memorial Hospital by EsseXploreR, on Flickr

Posted by Dark_Aaron I was on a rooftop of a skyscraper and was about to head down, after getting a little paranoid at seeing a helicopter make 3 passes in a circle around the building I was on top of. When I made it to the roof hatch, I heard voices from below but couldn't make out anything they were saying. But I could tell they were getting closer. Not sure if I was about to be arrested, I just waited for the people to come up. It turned out to be a group of 5-6 20 something year olds with some beer and weed. Fun night lol We also encountered a group of like 6-8 people on the roof of a hospital one night, they saw us walking through the courtyard and took off we saw them jumping a fence and running back to their cars as fast as they could.

I have twice had a helicopter flying circle while I was on a roof. It's kinda freaky at first. Until I take a minute and think about it. I can't imagine any police force in the world sending out a helicopter because some people were spotted on the roof of a abandoned building.

Posted by TheSwanStation I have twice had a helicopter flying circle while I was on a roof. It's kinda freaky at first. Until I take a minute and think about it. I can't imagine any police force in the world sending out a helicopter because some people were spotted on the roof of a abandoned building.

That's what I was thinking but when I heard people coming up I sure thought I was about to be in some kinda trouble.

Rule #2 unless it's water bottles, keep your gear with you unless you don't care if it disappears.

Stay alert, see, hear or smell them before they detect you. Knowing who your dealing with is important. Avoid them when possible. If they're low threat I ignore them. Otherwise I watch them from the shadows.

I tag scrappers almost every time; if you are tearing apart what I came to see... I'll get you busted. Fuck this we are all criminals bs.

I never offer or give anything to someone I don't know except in very rare occasions and not in abandoned buildings. Nothing good ever happened to someone who gives a mugger something... they probably want -all- you got. I let them know up front by doing this that if they fuck with me they're in for a hard time. No free rides.

I prefer to be by myself. The more people you bring, the easier you are to spot. The harder it is to evade. Do you leave one of your own behind? What if it's a life or death situation? If it's only you, decisions are easier and more fluid. If you need to, hit hard & fast, and bug out. If I have a heavy cam and lense, it's in my hand; I wouldn't think twice about smashing it a couple times into someone's face or head if need be.

If a place seems too dangerous, it probably is more than you can handle. Avoid it. Friends don't bring friends into harms way.

Rule #1 people are trouble...

Posted by TheSwanStation I have twice had a helicopter flying circle while I was on a roof. It's kinda freaky at first. Until I take a minute and think about it. I can't imagine any police force in the world sending out a helicopter because some people were spotted on the roof of a abandoned building.

They're are paid to protect and serve; it's an air patrol. A person on a rooftop that shouldn't be there will get their attention. You have no idea what their interests or intentions are; when you assume... Things can go from easy to very complicated in moments if you miscalculate the intentions of others.

In regards to scrappers, I don't share your view at all. I've a gotten copper scrapper busted for destroying my shoot, no regrets.

To think a career criminal wouldn't fuck with you especially if you're in their way or have something they want is asking for trouble.
It's a mistake to expect them to think like you or even care in the least about your life.