Please go easy on us--We're new to urban exploring. We started off investigating "haunted" places but we want to take it a bit further and include some abandoned houses/buildings as well. We're located in Wisconsin at the halfway point between Milwaukee and Madison, but willing to travel. Some of the precautions we take are to find a place in public to park the vehicle, where it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb to the authorities and nosey neighbors. We then walk to the places we're investigating to stay under the radar. We try to go late at night and wear dark clothing when possible. Any other tips for not getting caught?
Posted by wttnparanormal We try to go late at night and wear dark clothing when possible.
I wouldn't recommend this. Typically, I like to wear "normal" every day clothes and (with the exception of a certain few locations that demand it) go on a nice Sunday afternoon or Saturday morning. I found that the more I look like a housewife out for a hike, the easier I can slip in and out of places undetected. Wearing dark clothes and prowling around at night is just inviting unwanted attention.
If I ever go at night, it's gonna be at 3 am. If the spot is hard enough that I need to go at night then I want 0 chance of being seen. But if you are used to going at night and it helps your investigating, then keep doing it. Just don't try to go full spy mode and jump out from behind bushes and all that other stealthy stuff.
I personally haven't experienced anything paranormal in my few days of exploring, and I don't believe in ghosts (sorry if you don't like that term, I just need something more specific than paranormal). Most of the places I like probably wouldn't be seen as haunted purely because of their original purpose.
Anyways, have fun doing what you do!
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Re: Tips for not getting caught? <Reply # 6 on 5/23/2019 3:26 AM >
Posted by ryanpics If I ever go at night, it's gonna be at 3 am. If the spot is hard enough that I need to go at night then I want 0 chance of being seen. But if you are used to going at night and it helps your investigating, then keep doing it. Just don't try to go full spy mode and jump out from behind bushes and all that other stealthy stuff.
I personally haven't experienced anything paranormal in my few days of exploring, and I don't believe in ghosts (sorry if you don't like that term, I just need something more specific than paranormal). Most of the places I like probably wouldn't be seen as haunted purely because of their original purpose.
Anyways, have fun doing what you do!
Lord Rick lost one of his ghost hunters on a road to a drunk driver that they were walking down leading to a cemetery. A ghost hunter became a ghost, success.
One sewer hole missing it's cover in a unfamiliar field of tall grass will teach you why to do recon in the daylight. Predawn locations that are hard to get in then wait for daybreak once inside. Only locations that are always dark and don't leak light justify night missions.
Hellholes maim and kill. What you don't see, you most likely can't avoid... & Cops know the vandals and the bad guys come out at night. In many areas cops deliberately step up patrols at night.
[last edit 5/23/2019 2:55 PM by blackhawk - edited 1 times] Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Posted by wttnparanormal We try to go late at night and wear dark clothing when possible. Any other tips for not getting caught?
Dark clothing in and of itself is not a bad thing. But my advice is not to wear all black clothing. If you get stopped on the street by security/police, it's more difficult to talk your way out of the situation. Wearing ninja-quantities of black will make you more suspicious, and more difficult to talk your way out of a situation.
Dark or navy blue is a much better alternative. If a cop shines his light on you, it just looks like you're wearing normal blue clothes, which aren't immediately suspicious (most of the time, anyways).
Another benefit to dark shades of blue is that it can sometimes appear even more invisible in darkness than black. Black can sometimes stand out against a night background. Blue, paradoxically, sometimes just disappears entirely, making it a much better all-around camouflage than black.
But probably the best advice is what has already be stated. Do your scouting in the day, and try to do your exploring then too. It is 1000 times easier to convince a cop you're out for an innocent hike if the sun is shining. There are 1000 times more questions to answer if you need to justify why you're hiking in a weird place at night.
- Darker colors are good, but don't overdo it. Dress casual. Nothing says "criminal" quite like sneaking around at night wearing all black, and the less experienced you look when caught, the better. Getting caught doesn't always mean arrested. Be prepared for it when it happens, don't have anything stupid in your pockets, and maybe know some history on the place.
- Stay together once inside.
- Upon exiting, be sure to at least take a gander outside before you just walk out into the unknown. Walk away casually like it ain't no big deal.
Other than that, common sense really goes a long way.
Honestly just dont make yourself look sus. If you walk with a purpose and have confidence...dont do anything too stupid, try and avoid jumping fences or creeping through cracks and stuff...it helps when someone does see you. they probably wont look too deep into it. in my experience, the time i was trying to creep through a back window, i got caught by a neighbor who wasnt real happy. but every other time i went there, before and after the window incident, i just walked right in the front door. no one ever bothered me. no one ever called it in. dont bring too much gear or backpacks. it looks sus.
its mostly about knowing your enviroment and neighborhood. knowing how to act and where to go. feel it out as you go and hope for the best.
Before you ask which way to go, remember where you've been.
I think the tips on not having too much gear and not looking suspicious are spot on.
My opinion on running is if it’s security and you think you can outrun them—go for it. I’m not someone who would run from a LEO because—Unnecessary running is really not something they seem to enjoy. 2. If you do end up getting caught by one it’s a lot harder to downplay that you didn’t know what you were doing was wrong or illegal/ they are a lot less likely to want to show any kindness and if possible I want to maintain a clean criminal record (while still exploring as much cool shit as possible).
I’ve been caught once and had great luck with being semi-honest and apologetic. I said I stumbled on the place and it looked interesting and I was just curious to take a look around. We were just told to leave because we were trespassing. No tickets or bag searches. There could absolutely be privilege at play or maybe we the LEO’s we encountered were feeling friendly that day.
I had a friend from high school who was doing a group explore and when they came out of the building there were LEO’s waiting for them. He tried to run and ended up being charged with possession of burglary tools, intent to commit burglary, and evading arrest on foot. The rest of the group got trespassing tickets.
TL;DR do your best to avoid looking sketchy and if you’re caught try not to make a bad situation worse.
Posted by tniz I think the tips on not having too much gear and not looking suspicious are spot on.
My opinion on running is if it’s security and you think you can outrun them—go for it. I’m not someone who would run from a LEO because—Unnecessary running is really not something they seem to enjoy. 2. If you do end up getting caught by one it’s a lot harder to downplay that you didn’t know what you were doing was wrong or illegal/ they are a lot less likely to want to show any kindness and if possible I want to maintain a clean criminal record (while still exploring as much cool shit as possible).
I’ve been caught once and had great luck with being semi-honest and apologetic. I said I stumbled on the place and it looked interesting and I was just curious to take a look around. We were just told to leave because we were trespassing. No tickets or bag searches. There could absolutely be privilege at play or maybe we the LEO’s we encountered were feeling friendly that day.
I had a friend from high school who was doing a group explore and when they came out of the building there were LEO’s waiting for them. He tried to run and ended up being charged with possession of burglary tools, intent to commit burglary, and evading arrest on foot. The rest of the group got trespassing tickets.
TL;DR do your best to avoid looking sketchy and if you’re caught try not to make a bad situation worse.
Packing pro gear never hurts the impression you make. Tripods are a liability though. Lol, walk softly and carry a big cam. Do your thing. The more you look like a pro shooter, the easier it generally is.
WYSIWYG, being dead honest with the LEOs and owners has served me well. Has gotten me invites and into places accessible no other way. Offer to share your photos, very few will take you up on it but it helps to break the ice.
If it seems like a bad idea, it probably is. Remember that in general and -before- you slam the shutter release. Not taking one image has saved me a lot of grief more then once; show respect to your subjects and LEOs.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Ive never gotten caught but any time I go to a location I always just act like myself and dress like myself; well, I like to wear dresses so not exactly like myself. I carry around my tripod and my camera bag. I try not to disturb anything. I do go night shooting because I enjoy night photography. I wear the same things. I have run into people while out at night but thankfully it's never been bad people. I carry pepper spray just in case and don't go at night alone.
Sunday mornings are always a great time because if you think about it.. by that time, everyone who was out partying and doing stupid illegal shit have probably all gone to bed or back home at least. There is minimal traffic because no body has to work and the officers that actually are on duty are probably at some gas station having coffee and donuts hahaha just my thoughts
Snow storms can provide great cover for getting into an abandonment. For an additional measure try walking in backwards. Anyone seeing your footprints will assume you've left!.
All of these tips are great. I also rely on gut feelings. If it doesn’t feel right, trust your gut. If my friends and I are going to a building we have explored multiple times, and one of us has a “feeling” we skip that building and go on to another. Enjoy exploring. My father started me on this when I was in elementary school in the 1970’s and I started my sons on it when they were quite young. In 40 years of exploring, I have only been caught twice. First time while exiting and having just jumped a fence - we ran. Second time just chatted our way out.
Posted by qsp1 All of these tips are great. I also rely on gut feelings. If it doesn’t feel right, trust your gut.
The one time I didn't listen to my gut I attracted the attention of the local sheriff and backup units. I walked out and they treated me like anyone who was dressed like Batman. Spent about 45 minutes in cuffs while they tried to figure things out. Answered yes-sir, no-sir to all their questions. I ended up with a $245 citation rather than something worse.
So yeah...
1) Follow your gut. 2) Be prepared to pay for your mistakes.
Ethics
