Really wondering how to avoid attracting attention while trespassing, dicks keep calling the cops or something.
Do I just have bad luck or are there more stealthy ways to go into abandoned buildings?
My general method is parking somewhere a ways away and then simply walking in, if there's stuff that could hide me before i actually enter the building I walk behind it.
wear dark clothing, dark grey or black
peek around corners before engaging
[QUOTE=Lost_n_found;38385719]start a fire on the opposite side of town[/QUOTE]
10/10 advice would follow again
When I was walking past the Hudson river ( I live in NY Manhattan), I saw what i think was a drug trade or something and just walked past it. Then I saw some other guy on the other side looking at me suspiciously so I fucking ran. The point is: Don't walk past drug trades.
As someone who frequents the aerosol painting scene, wear black and be fast. Also, a lot of the time there is nobody watching you. So just be calm.
[B]Overall: [/B]Be calm, be methodical, be quiet. Take it slow, don't be in a rush. If you rush, you make noise; make noise, you attract attention. Most of the time you will not have direct view of people you want to avoid and vice versa. Your best chance to avoid them is to spot them first. [B]You cannot sneak past what you don't know is there. [/B]
I'm gonna go on a bit of a rant here, so bear with me.
[B]Noise: [/B] Make sure to watch where you walk, and what you are going to walk on. Broken glass, empty cans or trash, old floor boards, etc makes a huge racket when stepped on. Make sure each step will produce minimal noise, ie, picking around trash, stepping on cross beams of floorboards (where they're nailed in). Make sure nothing you carry or wear rustles, shifts, squeaks, clangs, jangles, sloshes, or otherwise makes too much noise. Some noise is inevitable, but you can do a great deal to minimize it. Quiet is safe.
[B]Sight: [/B] Obviously dull colored clothes are nice. Straight black is generally a no-no, as there is actually very little 'true' black in low light situations. Generally dark greys, greens, blues, or tans are your best bet (depending on your environs). If it's dark enough to warrant black clothes, you won't be able to see much of anything anyway. As for illumination, try to keep one very low power torch. The huge Maglite 2D ones are nice and all (especially if you need to use it as a bludgeon or hammer), but they give off a lot of unnecessary light that ultimately does you no good. So long as you can still see where you're going and don't mind a little dark, you'll be fine.
[B]Miscellaneous: [/B] Working with a buddy can save your life. If you get hurt or stuck, a buddy can get help or get you out. Make sure he's as quiet as or quieter than yourself. Common sense is a must. Don't make rash decisions, always know what you're getting into and how you can get out of it. Basically, this all boils down to be prepared, be smart, and be safe.
[QUOTE=AFewOstriches;38523378][B]Overall: [/B]Be calm, be methodical, be quiet. Take it slow, don't be in a rush. If you rush, you make noise; make noise, you attract attention. Most of the time you will not have direct view of people you want to avoid and vice versa. Your best chance to avoid them is to spot them first. [B]You cannot sneak past what you don't know is there. [/B]
I'm gonna go on a bit of a rant here, so bear with me.
[B]Noise: [/B] Make sure to watch where you walk, and what you are going to walk on. Broken glass, empty cans or trash, old floor boards, etc makes a huge racket when stepped on. Make sure each step will produce minimal noise, ie, picking around trash, stepping on cross beams of floorboards (where they're nailed in). Make sure nothing you carry or wear rustles, shifts, squeaks, clangs, jangles, sloshes, or otherwise makes too much noise. Some noise is inevitable, but you can do a great deal to minimize it. Quiet is safe.
[B]Sight: [/B] Obviously dull colored clothes are nice. Straight black is generally a no-no, as there is actually very little 'true' black in low light situations. Generally dark greys, greens, blues, or tans are your best bet (depending on your environs). If it's dark enough to warrant black clothes, you won't be able to see much of anything anyway. As for illumination, try to keep one very low power torch. The huge Maglite 2D ones are nice and all (especially if you need to use it as a bludgeon or hammer), but they give off a lot of unnecessary light that ultimately does you no good. So long as you can still see where you're going and don't mind a little dark, you'll be fine.
[B]Miscellaneous: [/B] Working with a buddy can save your life. If you get hurt or stuck, a buddy can get help or get you out. Make sure he's as quiet as or quieter than yourself. Common sense is a must. Don't make rash decisions, always know what you're getting into and how you can get out of it. Basically, this all boils down to be prepared, be smart, and be safe.[/QUOTE]
Great advice! Another tid bit involving straight black, as AFewOstriches mention there is very little, to no actual "true" black in low light or natural background. Straight black also "screams" when hit with IR (Infrared) light (most security cameras use IR when in low light level mode) and when being viewed through Night Vision (law enforcement and higher range security cameras). Commercial detergents like "Tide" only serve to make it worse because of the artificial optical brighteners used.
Navy blue is what you should wear at night, as black sticks out badly.
Would a type of urban camouflage work for certain areas? Such as camouflage pants, and a dark gray sweater or something along that? I'm guessing probably. But I'd need some opinions.
[QUOTE=SirDavid255;38607421]Would a type of urban camouflage work for certain areas? Such as camouflage pants, and a dark gray sweater or something along that? I'm guessing probably. But I'd need some opinions.[/QUOTE]
Urban camouflages have never been a definitive design. The M81 urban pattern was never picked up by the military, T-Pat was used only once by the Marines during Operation Urban Warrior in 1999, and the MARPAT Urban camouflage is a aftermarket design.
The actual release design of UCP and MARPAT do serious reduce detection by mean of Night Optic Devices.
It's really a personal preference situation.
Wearing any type of camouflage in an urbanized setting is begging for trouble, even if they can aid in suppressing detection. Darker, solid colors like Navy Blue (as Deathmog mentioned) are far less conspicuous, but also lessen detection by sight while in dark or low light level environments.
Wear a bigfoot outfit or devil outfit
just say you are preaching the word of god to those who have committed sin by drug use, so youre trying to find the crackheads within the abandon buildings
disguise as a fellow crackhead, and the citizens of crackville shall not harm you.
In my experience the best way to avoid attracting attention is to hide in plain sight so to speak.
Wearing high-visibility clothes a radio and sometimes even a hard hat makes people think you actually have an official reason to be there.
[QUOTE=sealpower;38665517]In my experience the best way to avoid attracting attention is to hide in plain sight so to speak.
Wearing high-visibility clothes a radio and sometimes even a hard hat makes people think you actually have an official reason to be there.[/QUOTE]
Carry a clipboard, print out any offical looking papers you can, hard hat, high-vis vest, work boots
bam, instant surveyor / construction / whatever
[QUOTE=Strider_07;38679740]Carry a clipboard, print out any offical looking papers you can, hard hat, high-vis vest, work boots
bam, instant surveyor / construction / whatever[/QUOTE]
Might have to go try that now.
[QUOTE=Strider_07;38679740]Carry a clipboard, print out any offical looking papers you can, hard hat, high-vis vest, work boots
bam, instant surveyor / construction / whatever[/QUOTE]
Until someone asks for your credentials, then the authorities can try charging you with Impersonating a Professional Land Surveyor or Impersonating a Contractor (both are illicit acts in many states in the US), and quite possibly, Conspiracy to Commit Terrorism. Along with Trespassing, Breaking and Entering, Destruction of Private Property, and whatever else in the book that will stick.
Another vote for navy blue, though any mix of dark earth tones ought to work. Police react negatively to people wearing ninja suits of any kind, including monochromatic dark street clothes with hoodies, particularly when the weather doesn't call for it. Also, confirmed for certain detergents screwing up your IR signature; we always laughed about it until we deployed and got our hands on fancy optics: some of us were glowing in our uniforms. [URL="http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/uniforms/laundry-detergents-for-use-with-the-acu-army-combat-uniform.shtml"]Army Study Guide to the rescue![/URL] I use Soap Nuts (cheap and natural alternative), which lack optical brighteners as well.
Act like you're where you're supposed to be, doing what you're supposed to do. Confidence and complete lack of anxiety in your body language will get you ignored by passersby and deter criminals. It can even throw off policemen, though there are quite a few variables in that one. Props are good, but as mentioned above, you can't outright impersonate public officials. Cameras are dual purpose. My best cover is "Harmless Photography Enthusiast," which works in part because I'm legitimately eager to show people pictures of the things I've found and wax poetic about preservationist nonsense and the anthropological value of studying "street art" (treat it like hieroglyphics, not an art gallery, or they'll think you're a tagger). Police get bored, see you're not a threat, and tell you to fuck off.
Exceptions include high-traffic drug or transient areas, and places where racism or other discrimination puts you at odds with the patrolman. Sensing the window is not always easy, but pre-empting people with harmless banter really helps. Most people these days will call 911 as they drive off, though, so your first clue you're spotted may be the squad car parked next to yours, or a deer spotter wrecking your night vision (related note, light discipline: get a red lens for your light, which you should use sparinginly, and smokers should wait until off-site).
Employing natural camouflage, using cover without appearing to "lurk," and social camouflage (props, body language) will save you a lot of hassle. If you do get caught, being friendly and free of drugs, weapons, paint/pens/stickers and stolen/salvaged items will help your case. Try to deflect suspicion without lying; it must be casual, because this guy didn't catch you: this is his due diligence to make sure this place is safe for the public (i.e. you). Good luck, and stay away from that site for two months minimum.
Just act natural. Don't be paranoid, because most likely people won't be paying attention to you.
act high as fuck
if that doesn't work go straight to plan b: smoke bombs
[QUOTE=Weps;38759180]Until someone asks for your credentials, then the authorities can try charging you with Impersonating a Professional Land Surveyor or Impersonating a Contractor (both are illicit acts in many states in the US), and quite possibly, Conspiracy to Commit Terrorism. Along with Trespassing, Breaking and Entering, Destruction of Private Property, and whatever else in the book that will stick.[/QUOTE]
just say you were larping
Don't dress EXACTLY like a surveyor and never lie. It is not illegal to wear a hardhat and reflective vest. Anyone can buy this stuff in a store. If you do get caught just say you wear it for your own protection. I usually dress nice like I am an insurance adjustor or something, but I would never actually SAY that I am. See the difference? You only have to look the part just enough...
Not only should you dress natural, but you should act natural. This goes for trespassing, or even sneaking into a concert. Walk with authority, like you know what you're doing, you're on a mission, someone just asked you to get a picture of their property for their records, go do your job.
pretend you're the comic relief guy
[video=youtube;iRZ2Sh5-XuM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRZ2Sh5-XuM[/video]
Walk like this to fend off predators. I do it.
Sit in one spot for hours and study the shadows as they move over things but never touch them, then be the shadows.
A good tip is to just walk like you know where you're walking and what you're doing. People who seem to stop, investigate something, then wheel around and survey the landscape before returning to what they were doing seem more suspicious than anything else.
I would say eight or nine times out of ten you could walk right up to any door and go inside, and barring there any reason to distinguish you from people who are SUPPOSED to be there, nobody would ask any questions. Also, wearing a high-vis vest can potentially raise your chances of having people assume you have a legitimate reason to be in the area. And if all else fails, there is nothing better than attempting to wear clothing that would slightly camoflauge you depending on where you're exploring and being quick in open spaces.
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