So a few weeks ago, I had finished class at the college for the day, and decided to take a stroll to this old brewery about a mile and a half away. On the way there, I passed by a seemingly abandoned warehouse/factory. Doors and windows were boarded, glass broken, and some trash build up.

I figured I might pop in to get a few pictures, but as I entered the gravel parking lot, I pointed my lens at an open bay door, and noticed a nice looking car sitting in there. I punched the address into my phone, and a few companies came up, but none seem to be active. Given this area is located roughly between two port cities, they've busted people in the past for car theft and chop shops in the metropolitan area.

Is something like this worth reporting to the proper authorities? I know one major point of urbex is to avoid having the location swarmed by police/hooligans, but at the same time, if illegal activity is happening there, it could be a danger to the public or any urbexer who is not aware of what is happening at the location.

Snitches Get Stitches.

Would have to agree^ It'd be a different thing if it was something required immediate attention. (ie:someone being beaten/harmed, hostage situation, etc.) If I saw that I'd stay low and far out of the way. The people responsible for that don't need witnesses, And I'm sure they'd take the steps to take care of loose ends (you).

I'd go back at a later point and carefully take a look around again. Some old places get rented out for storage space. They could have also just thought it was a cool spot to take pictures of their car.

Or, if it didn't look like a very cool building anyway, maybe just leave it. I wouldn't call in the police either way, unless you saw a trailer full of Thai children in cages getting unloaded.

Thanks for the input. I figure I'll let it go.

Still sucks, as that put it off my exploration list for the time being. Don't want to go getting into any more trouble than necessary.

Looks like we're neighbors, there's a lot of places down there that the Hispanics run businesses out of. I wouldn't worry about it mind your own business and you will be fine. But watch out some of those "abandoned" warehouses down there aren't, and if they find u sneaking around you aren't going to get off so easy. By the way if you haven't checked out the brewery yet I would , it's pretty cool.

Ya never know. Backing off, as you did, would be my first instinct. If it's a large building then how knows what up inside. Could be nothing, could be criminal.

There is a house about a block away from where I grew up that had a fire in it which killed the sole male occupant. Six months later his Mercedes was still sitting in the driveway as though nothing had ever happened (fire damage wasn't visible from the street).

Have you gone back to this location to see if that car is still there?

You do realize what you do is also illegal? There's any number of reasons the car could have been there. Especially if it's a nice car, some explorers drive nice cars maybe they drove and left it there to go explore. I would never call the police at an abandonment unless there was someone physically harming or getting harmed or I witnessed someone doing something they shouldn't and it was severe. How would you like it if someone saw you pull up to a property in your car and call the cops on you?

Posted by esprod You do realize what you do is also illegal? How would you like it if someone saw you pull up to a property in your car and call the cops on you?

I'm quite aware of the legality of this hobby. More so as I am studying law.


And the whole point of this is not just "I saw this car pull up, better call the cops." I had requested advice about when you witness things of a more criminal nature (talking with cops I know, some of these abandoned factories have been turned into chop shops), and to see if anyone had similar situations and what course of action they took.

Posted by SouthPaw I'm quite aware of the legality of this hobby. More so as I am studying law. And the whole point of this is not just "I saw this car pull up, better call the cops." I had requested advice about when you witness things of a more criminal nature (talking with cops I know, some of these abandoned factories have been turned into chop shops), and to see if anyone had similar situations and what course of action they took.

You asked if something like what you described was worth reporting ;) I was just saying I don't think it is. Especially considering as mentioned if it was you driving up leaving your car there and another person saw your car you probably wouldn't want them to call the cops.

I think you should let the popo handle it!