Posted by Monkeyhawk I would like to add, in most settings, there isn't anyone watching a monitor the the camera broacasts on. Most cases they look back on the tape when there is an occurrence. If the site is important then it maybe be watched.

The OP was worried about people spotting him. If it's even a rudimentary smart camera it would send an alert when it's zone is breached. Game over.
The only cams you see are the ones they want you to see...
Many locations don't warrant real time security.

Those that do can an intricate smart cam network covering sometimes many square miles. These are capable of target ID (animal, human, car, bike, etc), tracking movement, gleaning tag numbers/vehicle info, and facial/race recognition. They can ID a returning subject or vehicle; look for and ID patterns. They can be program to allow or not allow certain types of movement and behavior, and send out anything from a notation of an event to a real time alarm. These systems are formidable, redundant, and hard to detect. One guards Reagan International Airport and there are many now in use both by private companies and the government.

My partner and I were caught by video cameras. Police arrived 45 minutes after we entered the site. So if you're feeling lucky you might run into a videoed site, take a picture and hightail it.

Posted by tiftastic I always go for the "act like you belong there" approach. If you look sketchy, you'll draw attention. Walk briskly, but confidently. Do not run. Keep your head up. Do not look around more than necessary.

+1

Posted by Kaysic I've recently run into this problem for a site I'm scouting. Everything about the place is chalking up to be fantastic - lots of access points, lots to explore, and pretty spare security. Well, at least physical security; I'm hitting a stone wall as to how to approach the blasted building, since it's surrounded on all sides by at least 200 meters of flat, open ground. One side, the shortest approach, is maybe 150 meters, but is bordered by one of the busiest roads in the county. Another side, about the same distance, has an almost as busy road and is exposed to a residential area. The other two sides have entries in unobserved areas, but are much longer (~400m) and undeveloped (rucking it over undeveloped grassland). While making approaches in high-traffic areas is something I've done on other trips, here I'm hitting a brick wall because the building's history is such that there is zero reason for anyone to be going there, and the locals know it. Any ideas?

It's hard to say without pics and context of the site.

Urban explorers who only look around and take pictures rather than "explore" don't always have to keep stealth.

It's technically trespassing to even step a foot into a neighborhood park during closed hours, but I bet the neighbors walk through there all the time after hours to take a short cut, go on a morning jog or walk their dogs.

Locals are primarily concerned with those having the appearance of suspicion of causing issues they experience such as leaving bags of trash, furniture or graffiti.

If you go into a yard full of cement barriers and sewer pipes with nothing but a water bottle and a camera in the daylight it's likely that locals don't care. If they see someone with a large bag at 2AM acting stealthily (or hear hissing or smell paint), they'll probably call the police.

Go during the hours not associated with dumping or vandalism and don't bring a large bag. You maybe able to call and ask as an alternative. Offsite property owners might even find it useful if you'd send them a few pictures they can use to market the property or keep track of conditions such as new dumping or vandalism on the property. You get to explore, they get to have something, win-win. When there's a some form of benefit for them, you're more likely to get a permission.

Posted by DJ Craig I've been in this situation more times than I can count. You just have to go for it. Walk up like you belong. Do NOT run. Without having seen the spot, I'd lean towards the longer but less visible approach.

This. This. This.

Don't act suspicious, be confident, walk like you own the place.

Another option:


They'll never suspect a thing!

Posted by The Viscount Andrew Dalton Another option: https://s-media-ca...ed1646799d6d05.jpg They'll never suspect a thing!

probably will work for real on halloween.

Posted by blackhawk The OP was worried about people spotting him. If it's even a rudimentary smart camera it would send an alert when it's zone is breached. Game over. The only cams you see are the ones they want you to see... Many locations don't warrant real time security. Those that do can an intricate smart cam network covering sometimes many square miles. These are capable of target ID (animal, human, car, bike, etc), tracking movement, gleaning tag numbers/vehicle info, and facial/race recognition. They can ID a returning subject or vehicle; look for and ID patterns. They can be program to allow or not allow certain types of movement and behavior, and send out anything from a notation of an event to a real time alarm. These systems are formidable, redundant, and hard to detect. One guards Reagan International Airport and there are many now in use both by private companies and the government.

You simply don't UE those locs. Of course international airports and port of entries have military facility like security to deter people or luggage from entering or leaving off the book.

Posted by Deuterium You simply don't UE those locs. Of course international airports and port of entries have military facility like security to deter people or luggage from entering or leaving off the book.

911 hot spots are likely to have them, however many commercial firms now employ this technology. They don't advertise it. Smart cams are always fixed position, but their range can extend to a thousand yards or more, although typical not. Many times the cams are small, numerous, and difficult to spot.
Many cities also are using them. I used Reagan Airport as an example because it was documented on a PBS special about 8 years ago. Active Federal, and military bases fall under the FBI's jurisdiction and should be avoided for this reason alone. Especially now.

All that said you aren't going to find these systems at abandoned sites. They are expensive to set up. If you are near a hot spot with them, you may inadvertently come under their scrutiny. Such as near a large bridge, a petrochemical complex, etc. Many times their active no go zones include the rooftops of surrounding buildings.

I would recommend laying prone, like they do in the military and reducing your silhouette, crouch in grass if there is any, and use an angle that will obscure most of your path with the building. So if it's on a corner of a road, you need to go 45 degrees from the backside.

likewise if there is active buildings nearby, try and get an angle that will put most of them out of sight. Going at night is good too but be careful always.

Posted by JKuhnss While I've never tried this approach, I've seen other members suggest it before. Get one of those bright orange or yellow traffic vests and grab a clip board with some random papers on it. Act like you are meant to be there surveying or something. To the typical person driving by, you will appear to be working at the location, effectively hiding in plain sight.

Just park with your vehicle in the middle of the field, in plain sight.
I have done the thing with the vest a couple of times, but we are in the computer age, if you carry a clipboard they will call PD.

Most people that should be there have everything on a tablet or on the phone, so this works well.

Don't forget to place a cone behind your vehicle.

If someone asks what you are doing, tell them you are measuring magnetic field variances.
If you are a Ingress player even better, the app works well for that.

Ghillie suit

Just do it. My approach is to just stroll around like a sightseeing tourist snapping photos. If I get caught, I'm polite and act surprised like I had no idea I wasn't supposed to be there (Been caught a few times by police and security guards, never been arrested). It's not like I'm a bloody secret agent or something.

An option depending on the terrain and your attire is to go at low light and military crawl (https://www.youtub...atch?v=LiwPG0TBSNE)

And yes, cameras 90% of the time are no worry as they are used to check only if there was a situation that occurred, so don't make a situation =)

Posted by Big Poppa Just do it. My approach is to just stroll around like a sightseeing tourist snapping photos. If I get caught, I'm polite and act surprised like I had no idea I wasn't supposed to be there (Been caught a few times by police and security guards, never been arrested). It's not like I'm a bloody secret agent or something.

I think this approach works well but you can't look like an explorer. Think of how weird the tactical pants and equipment/backpack looks to normal people (thats funny)- leave the exploring attire at home and just look comfortable. Lights can be small enough to easily conceal in even skinny jeans, or better yet use your phone. I almost forgot this was a thing because I no longer have a cell phone- I wonder why no one calls me to explore? People might still call the police if they're extra nosey but if you look normal you'll be much more likely to succeed at playing it off if you are caught

Of course keep in mind any kind of bright signage pretty swiftly debunks your "I didn't knowz" story