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Infiltration Forums > Archived UE Tutorials, Lessons, and Useful Info > asking permission (Viewed 754 times)
dslrennwagen 






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asking permission
< on 4/9/2005 1:15 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
has anyone ever contacted the owner of a building or site, inquiring about the use and history, and requested a supervised tour with the appropriate safety precautions in place, under the auspices of photography?

undoubtedly this would probably fail, but has anyone ever successfully accomplished this?

i apologize if this has been covered in depth previously, but "permission" isnt exactly a limiting search string.

Chronic 


Very Noble Donor

location:
Kitchener, ON
Gender: Male


Architecture has only two enemies. Water and stupid men.

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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 1 on 4/9/2005 1:27 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
This approach is most undoubtedly, the king of Social Engineering skill utilization.

If successful, the thrill of the inf is somewhat quashed, but legal entries allow for better pics as you have all the time for setup...and (cough cough)thats why you requested access, for photography...right?

01:14:16] <Chronic> Conrad...ya gotta go....
[01:14:30] <nightbird> yes Mr. Black, life is funnier than a pocket full of stocks! And...Tim has legal friends in Chicago...we'll get thru this!!!
nostra-YOUPPI! 


Umpire

location:
Shahre:'on Kaybec


Bonsoir et cest partie

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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 2 on 4/9/2005 1:30 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
ive done it a few times with success, some companies will just have you tag along with a security guard on his rounds. works pretty well

Montreal Expos 1969-2004 Forever Proud Lets Keep The Dream Alive
Chronic 


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location:
Kitchener, ON
Gender: Male


Architecture has only two enemies. Water and stupid men.

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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 3 on 4/9/2005 1:41 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Silent Knight, Myself, Boffinator, Exkali & Cosmic Bard did Westinghouse this way. Basically, we were scouting the place and bumped into the owner. Free reign of the place basically. Just by asking.

Frost & Crossfire did the old ask permission thing for access to the Kaufman Footwear Company.

Nothing beats a good ole self permitted inf, but those sites that are tight, "red" missions, if the opportunity for legal access is there, take advantage. It's a 50/50 crap shoot with nothing to lose.

01:14:16] <Chronic> Conrad...ya gotta go....
[01:14:30] <nightbird> yes Mr. Black, life is funnier than a pocket full of stocks! And...Tim has legal friends in Chicago...we'll get thru this!!!
rainman8889 


location:
H.T.S.F.C. Time to gain and a time to lose.


Bye for now.

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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 4 on 4/9/2005 1:53 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Chronic

Nothing beats a good ole self permitted inf, but those sites that are tight, "red" missions, if the opportunity for legal access is there, take advantage. It's a 50/50 crap shoot with nothing to lose.


And lots to gain!

Gone for a while. Be back when I'm back.
Chronic 


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location:
Kitchener, ON
Gender: Male


Architecture has only two enemies. Water and stupid men.

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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 5 on 4/9/2005 2:05 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Sorry, never thought of it that way. My cup is only half-full.

01:14:16] <Chronic> Conrad...ya gotta go....
[01:14:30] <nightbird> yes Mr. Black, life is funnier than a pocket full of stocks! And...Tim has legal friends in Chicago...we'll get thru this!!!
DjMalign 


location:
Fort Collins, CO
Gender: Male


Sexy, sexy, sexy

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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 6 on 4/9/2005 2:52 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've done it once. i contacted a guy who owns the land where an atlas f missile silo sie was on is roswell. What we got to do then was to bring a generator and tons of extension cords and lit up the silo itself to shoot it for 7 hours. So yes, if you absolutely positively cannot get into a place asking to go in can have its rewards.

I hate all of you
oCtAnE 


location:
TORONTO, CANADA
Gender: Male


EXPLORER AT LARGE

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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 7 on 4/9/2005 3:07 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Did it a few times, and at one location, the renovator opened all sorts of doors and windows for me so I could, "Get a really cool shot man!" with my digital camera. I explored the whole building, with the renovator working away on the lower level with no worries.

-Octane

FUELED BY OCTANE.
HagensborgViking 


location:
Fernwood, Victoria
Gender: Male




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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 8 on 4/9/2005 5:53 PM >
Posted on Forum:
 
I'll do this quite often. If there's a site that I absolutely need to see, but can't get into without wrecking something, then I'll track down the owner or holding company and push for access. This has been a success about 90 percent of the time, and has even led to a right to salvage heritage houses slated for demolision on more than one occasion.... For free.

Often, you can scope out a place for weeks waiting for an entry point to become available, but when it finally does, it's because of looters or vandals. The site can no longer offer you the same visual satisfactions. Quite a disappointment for heritage freaks like myself. Why would I want a picture of a victorian fir floor covered in pieces of a shattered toilet?!?!


Freak 


location:
Usually Alaska, now MSP.
Gender: Male


Hypocrite

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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 9 on 4/9/2005 6:20 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I've done this on several occasions. In high school I did a large historical research project that gave me an excuse to see all the local bunkers and military ruins. I made friends with the maintenance staff (my school was an old navy base) and got to see a lot of the abandoned areas. They even broke the lock on the old power plant (no one could find the key) so I could take pictures of the asbestos coated boilers and antique switchgear. Unfortunately when I tried to go back and get better photos a couple years later, the new administration was jumpy about safety and wouldn't allow it.

I've toured some mines and power plants semi-officially and also by knowing people who worked there (always a plus). There's always an element of uncertainty when asking for permission to check out a site, it depends on the owner and their views and predjudices, how you portray yourself and your experience / interest / knowledge.

Here are some tips from an NSS member about getting permission to explore caves on private property, they could come in handy for UE sites as well:
1. Be respectful. Make eye contact and speak clearly. Smile and be as honest as possible.
2. Act and dress neutral, don't show up in dirty clothes looking like a hippie or hillbilly. Don't wear sunglasses, drink or smoke while talking to the owner, and turn off your car stereo.
3. Be humble, but be confident at the same time. They want to know that you're competent, but not arrogant. Tell them why you're interested and what experience you have.
4. If you're in a group, the rest of the group should be visible and not obvious hoodlums. Send one person to talk to the owner, a large group can be intimidating.
5. Follow the owner's wishes about photography, littering, where to go, what not to touch, etc.
6. If necessary, offer to waive liability (Caving groups have forms for this that could be modified for UE).
-Modified from Bill Tozer's article "Landowner Relations" in Caving Basics
[last edit 4/9/2005 6:21 PM by Freak - edited 1 times]

Turn off the internet and go play outside.
http://spamusement...hp/comics/view/137
Jester 


location:
Vancouver,B.C. Canada
Gender: Male


Always just out of sight...

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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 10 on 4/9/2005 7:48 PM >
Posted on Forum:
 
I've also gained access to a few places like this, though usually I elude to being involved with the historic society (without actually saying so, but allowing the person to assume I am officially involved when in reality i'm just interested in such things...). It just like every other method, will work at some places and not others. My belief is to use the method that is most suitable (and non destructive) at that particular site.

It requires wisdom to understand wisdom: the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.
sephatista 


location:
Colorado




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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 11 on 4/9/2005 9:20 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
i just yesterday did something similar to this. i walked into the building and went right to the top floor via elevator. i told the nice lady at the desk i was from such and such organization and we were looking into office space in the tower and if i could have a look around, she told me to come back next week when the owner was there so he could show me around. well the elevator was taking forever so i went into the stairwell. checked out the roof access and started down. i found the floor right below the one i was just in had a door open to the stairwell so i went in and explored the office space which looked to be under heavy rennovation. i putzed around a while untill i found a construction worker in a room smoking and looking out the window. i said hey and introduced myself and asked if i could have a look around and take some pictures, he had no objections. the rest of the trip i took pics and exited and nobody really seemed to mind.

Amanita 






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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 12 on 4/18/2005 5:08 AM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
About asking permission- a few friends and I used to get visits to the roof and some of the mechanical spaces of the Maritime center, an office tower here in town.
We didn't have to sneak in, as we were friends with the property managers. We just had to ask, and if they were not too busy, up we went. I've got a few pics somewhere, I will have to scan them one of these days.

Currently, I'm employed as a security guard (ducks and runs!) One of the cool things about my job is the fact that depending on the site, I can get into some freaking cool places. I've worked construction sites- large condo projects. It's fascinating to see them grow, evolve, and change as construction progresses. And since I have no worries of being caught, I can prowl around at leisure, just enjoying the site. I tell you- there's something magical about watching the moon rise from a high balcony overlooking the harbour, or watching a giant tower crane weathervaning gently in the night breeze, like some great giant twitching in its sleep.
Even working finished buildings can be interesting..a couple of sites I've had, I've been issued keyrings that have gotten me into the mechanical rooms and penthouses of buildings..Technically, I'm supposed to check those areas anyhow, but few guards really, truly look at these spaces or appreciate them. Standing in the middle of all that heavy machinery, I can almost feel a breathing life force, it's so cool, almost like that 80's movie "Inner space", about humans getting shrunk enough to go inside someone's body.

Let the Tower Cranes fly..
lordpook 


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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 13 on 4/18/2005 5:33 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
My all-time favorite location, the Sears Crosstown in Memphis, is right across the street from a flea market. One day I noticed a sign on display there (but not for sale) that I had once seen in the Sears. The manager told me it belonged to a guy talking at one of the booths, Mitchel. As it turned out, Mitchel was employed by the Sear's owners as a head custodian. I wasn't shy at all; I said, "hi, I'm __, and I explore your building, place pictures of it online, put sign-in sheets at the top, but don't hurt it." Honesty paid off. He shared all his attempts to prevent vandalism and scrap metal scavanging, which included a large number of police officers combing the building with dogs. I told him we had some secret entrances, and that I'd help him lock them [all except, one, naturally ;)] in exchange for access to the building every once in a while. As soon as I secure and lock my private entrance, I'm going to help in plug up other ones to prevent damage to the structure. He'll let me and my guests come with him on occassional combs and workdays. But if he ever sees me in their without his permission, he doesn't plan to let me off. Of course, I now know his work hours...

lost 


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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 14 on 4/18/2005 12:29 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
In my only experience of asking permission to enter an abandoned building I was half-allowed - the construction company was okay with it, but the National Health Service who are still in charge of the building said no. Looks like I'll have to get the screwdriver out.

JimBoylan 


location:
SouthEast Pennsylvania, U. S. of A.
Gender: Male




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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 15 on 4/22/2005 9:52 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
When asking individual property owners for permission, about
half the time, they don't even know that they own anything
that could be interesting to others. Especially way out in
the wilderness, they may be astonished about the maps or
photos that you used to find the place. Each situation
and person can be different.

As for social engineering, what about getting permission to
"explore", I mean, inspect, as a potential purchaser, renter,
or customer?

Amanita 






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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 16 on 4/22/2005 11:51 PM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
When I was studying computer animation, I used to use the "student doing a project" excuse alot..it got pretty good results, except for one building where the management were assholes anyway.

Let the Tower Cranes fly..
JimBoylan 


location:
SouthEast Pennsylvania, U. S. of A.
Gender: Male




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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 17 on 4/23/2005 2:42 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The experiences and methods I mentioned about 2 posts ago have worked for me most of the time. Politely asking private property owners out in the wilderness always worked. (In the more outrageous cases, I couldn't find anyone to ask.) With businesses, I've had mixed luck. I got to explore Hoosac Tunnel by asking the tunnel inspector (now retired and probably dead of old age) if I could walk it with him! (He had a 6-volt lantern, pocket flashlight, and hard hat. My gang was well enough equipped with fire power [lights and cameras] to sink the Death Star!) But when visiting a railroad's engineering offices, the officials were very happy to show me plans and maps of all sorts, but wouldn't grant permission to physically explore.
On the prospective buyer idea, I was once a prospective bidder to clean up the Frankford Elevated Train Yard (Overhead Railway) of loose railroad ties (sleepers). Naturally, I had to find, count, and photograph every one, and any trains in the way of getting to them. The transportation authority was most co-operative, issuing instructions to the guards and train crews that I was wandering about, and then turning me loose without a "handler". At the end, I asked if there were any ties in the shop buildings, and was told that I could go look for myself. When I was finally done and reported myself out, they told the train crews that they could stop watching out for me. I submitted a bid that was so high that I would make a profit if I had to hire people to actually do the job. Naturally, I lost. The winning low bidder who hadn't really inspected the place later sued. I returned the authority's hospitality by testifying that I had been extended every courtesy and opportunity to inspect, and that the other bidders hadn't made much attempt to go with me on an extensive inspection.
Another time, I got a profitable job for my employer out of an "inspection" joyride on an abandoned railway line. I successfully pitched our services as subcontractor to the person who submitted the winning bid!

BlackDog 


Gender: Male


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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 18 on 4/23/2005 7:12 AM >
Posted on Forum:
 
Great thread. I've always had great experiences by simply asking permission. The trick is finding the right person to talk to, if you can find anyone at all. If you're really, REALLY want to get into an active and secured site, do your research and find out everything you can about it and it's history. Not only will you have a greater appreciation for what you later see, you'll probably impress the person giving permission.

Hey Jester, I noticed you have the North Shore (Allied) Shipyards in your "yellow" missions section. I've had a few opportunities to have pretty much unlimited access to that site because of a relationship with the owner's electrical staff. The only part I was unable to get into was the stern of that old ship they have sitting there. (I'm still working on that one - hee hee).

brian783 


location:
Austin, Tx
Gender: Male




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Re: asking permission
<Reply # 19 on 4/28/2005 11:45 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
How might one go about finding the person who is in charge of a building to get permission?
THNX
B

Infiltration Forums > Archived UE Tutorials, Lessons, and Useful Info > asking permission (Viewed 754 times)
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