Posted by sleeperspirit Sometimes I hollow out the inside of a large potted plant or use a flipped over garbage can and scoot closer and closer to my point of entry .
Posted by vmn551 As far as dressing like a cop, not a good idea. Impersonating a police officer is a pretty serious offense if I am not mistaken...lol
It's only punishable if you try to assert your "authority" over people. If just dressing like one was a problem, elementary schools would lose half of their students every Halloween.
As far as disguises go, just wear clown makeup. No one will go near you.
I just plan my trips around the time when there's not likely to be a lot of people around the area. For example, ~35 min after the day's over for industrial areas, weekends for schools, during work hours for residential neighbourhoods, ect.
I also plan my point of entry using google maps and guess where the blind spots are with respect to the areas with heavy traffic. That usually leads you off the beaten path, which will draw some attention. But even though I say this, try to stick to the areas with side-walks, or trails as much as possible because it will help with your alibi.
If it's possible, find a place to sit inconspicuously, like a bench or a café, and survey the area. But don't stay any longer than 20-30 minutes, otherwise they notice. Note security guards, cameras, and any activity in the area.
As for disguises, I just dress normally and pretend I belong. Wear more plain colours so that you don't stand out. Dress casually, walk like you've got somewhere to be and is just taking a shortcut. Preparing an alibi beforehand can help. If security spots you, smile and wave. If they tell you to leave, apoligise and do so. I don't have much experience with that last point, though, because nobody has stopped me yet.
However, I don't think this advice would work for sites that are very far off the beaten path. It's not like you can say that you're getting milk when you're 20 miles from the city.
If you can be bothered, cue up this video from 7:35. If I hadn't been wearing a old well-worn yellow reflective vest, I never would have been able to talk my way past the guard who caught me!
Explorer & Filmmaker from New Zealand gunner.co.nz
As for blending in, take some lessons from the masters:
mutantMandias may cause dizziness, sexual nightmares, and sleep crime. ++++ mutantMandias has to return some videotapes ++++ Do not taunt mutantMandias
mutantMandias is something more than human, more than a computer. mutantMandias is a murderously intelligent, sensually self-programmed, non-being
For those that have them, I find that just having a nice dslr slung around your neck helps loads. Just act like you're taking some groovy shots of this old building, and walk like you have every right to be there. I was going into my town's semi abandoned grain mill a couple days ago, and I was walking between the silos towards my PoE when a worker with a leaf blower came by. I just smiled and waved and kept shooting and he waved back and walked away. It helps with police too if you get caught outside the building and have a dedicated sd card with exterior shots. Smile and say "wanna see some of my shots?" I've used this a few times, and they all ended with something like "stay out of trouble and be on Your way"
As far as being inside.... my plan is just use dim flashlights and don't shine out windows, don't make lots of noise, and don't get caught
That's why you wear camo while exploring. Everyone knows you're invisible when you wear camo, that's how it works.
In all seriousness though, I feel like high vis attire wouldn't be very useful unless it's a high traffic entrance/exit into a site, or you're climbing through a grate or something you very obviously shouldn't be at.
As far as clever disguises go, confidence and an "I'm supposed to be here air" about you tends to more than suffice. A nod and a "good evening" to workers has gotten me past unexpected encounters more than once.
As far as clever disguises go, confidence and an "I'm supposed to be here air" about you tends to more than suffice. A nod and a "good evening" to workers has gotten me past unexpected encounters more than once.
So much this! Act natural is one of those things that goes further than expected.
Stealth: adj. designed in accordance with technology that makes detection difficult. Wraith: n. A wisp or faint trace of something
Confidence is key. I was on 2nd street in downtown Odessa, Tx, parked in front of the building and let's just say "fiddling" with the lock when a cop slowed down and looked at me. I smiled and waved, he waved back and drove on. Acting like you belong there can go a long way in avoiding suspicion.
Posted by Peptic Ulcer Confidence is key. I was on 2nd street in downtown Odessa, Tx, parked in front of the building and let's just say "fiddling" with the lock when a cop slowed down and looked at me. I smiled and waved, he waved back and drove on. Acting like you belong there can go a long way in avoiding suspicion.
The gold standard is they ask you to open it... been there and done that with the Od cops.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Posted by Peptic Ulcer Confidence is key. I was on 2nd street in downtown Odessa, Tx, parked in front of the building and let's just say "fiddling" with the lock when a cop slowed down and looked at me. I smiled and waved, he waved back and drove on. Acting like you belong there can go a long way in avoiding suspicion.
Smiled and waved. That's hilarious. That would not have worked here. NOPD act like arch angels under God's order to go out of their way to shit in your cereal.
Ethics
