SLOweather Posted September 22, 2005 Share Posted September 22, 2005 This was in this morning's San Luis Obispo CA Tribune... Does anyone know which cache it is, er, was? http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisob...al/12710107.htm Bomb squad inspects suspicious package Sally Connell The Tribune A suspicious-looking container hidden under greenery in a park pond in Paso Robles was retrieved by the county bomb squad, which determined the package was a place for global positioning system hobbyists to leave trinkets and notes for each other. The package caused excitement in the department for the better part of a day, from when it was spotted by a citizen at 8:25 a.m. until the incident ended at 1:30 p.m. "The package was retrieved, X-rayed and breached by the bomb squad," said Sgt. Nicky Woods. She said the package was approximately the size of a large camera bag, and it had been partially submerged with a wire attached, possibly for retrieval. She said it was determined the package was used by geocaching enthusiasts, individuals who use their global positioning systems to locate items in various locales. GPS users can use specific coordinates to find the cache, which in many cases is something as simple as a plastic container with a visitor log, and trinkets people have left behind. "Some of our own officers actually play this game. They say it's real fun when you travel," she said. -- Sally Connell Quote Link to comment
+Munin Posted September 22, 2005 Share Posted September 22, 2005 Looks like it was the "Troll" cache (GCPFXZ). Quote Link to comment
+NoLemon Posted September 22, 2005 Share Posted September 22, 2005 She said it was determined the package was used by geocaching enthusiasts, individuals who use their global positioning systems to locate items in various locales. GPS users can use specific coordinates to find the cache, which in many cases is something as simple as a plastic container with a visitor log, and trinkets people have left behind. That's actually one of the best short descriptions of geocaching I've seen in the press. They got it right! Quote Link to comment
+garri Posted September 22, 2005 Share Posted September 22, 2005 She can practise more regularly locating GC boxes now Quote Link to comment
+Milbank Posted September 22, 2005 Share Posted September 22, 2005 I wonder if anyone from the Bomb Squad starting geocaching after that. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted September 22, 2005 Share Posted September 22, 2005 That seems like a good article on the subject. Quote Link to comment
+HolyCowboys Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 Did they sign the log or leave any swag? HolyCowboys Quote Link to comment
+katguy Posted September 27, 2005 Share Posted September 27, 2005 Did they sign the log or leave any swag? HolyCowboys And I bet they didn't properly rehide the cache either Quote Link to comment
+lpyankeefan Posted September 27, 2005 Share Posted September 27, 2005 Ask EpiduralGirl about this kind of thing! She made the front page in Gettysburg, PA. Quote Link to comment
rynd Posted September 27, 2005 Share Posted September 27, 2005 "Some of our own officers actually play this game. They say it's real fun when you travel," she said. If some of the officers are Geocachers why didn't they just search Gc.com to see if there was a cache at that location before they blew it up. Quote Link to comment
magellan315 Posted September 27, 2005 Share Posted September 27, 2005 "Some of our own officers actually play this game. They say it's real fun when you travel," she said. If some of the officers are Geocachers why didn't they just search Gc.com to see if there was a cache at that location before they blew it up. Because they have procedures they have to follow, no matter what they think or are told, for everyones safety. In countries like Israel people are told not to picka purse or bag left sitting around because it may be a bomb. Bombs can be designed to look like something that is not two sticks of dynamite and an Acme alarm clock. On the other hand there were no comments from the police about their resources being wasted. They even made some positive comments about Geocaching. Quote Link to comment
+Moose Mob Posted September 27, 2005 Share Posted September 27, 2005 This one hits a bit close to home... a) I was raised in this area I have geocaching relatives in the county that that are in law enforcement. Scratch that off my to do list on my next visit. Quote Link to comment
+Wabsrck Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 What container did he use to keep it sealed tight even when underwater in a fast current? Quote Link to comment
Hogarth Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 (edited) I've been caching for over almost 3 years, and I have heard of this happening numerous times. Here is an article from 2003 where this happened as well. Is this a bomb? Nope, just a geocache. Just remember.. in today's day and age make sure you MARK the container very well. Otherwise it may meet the same fate as above.. BTW -- Try to avoid making caches out of tubes or pipes. The main reason this one met it's doom was because A. it was made out of a large white pvc pipe. B. The owner did not mark the outside of the container. C. it was hidden in a rather visible location. D. A paranoid farmer happened to notice it. E. Cache was located at bottom of telephone pole next to a major interstate freeway. A+B+C+D+E = a bomb scare. Edited October 25, 2005 by Hogarth Quote Link to comment
magellan315 Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 B. The owner did not mark the outside of the container. Have to disagree with on lableing it Geocache. Bombs can be made to look like anything. A briefcase with explosives and full of nails, still looks like a briefcase. The idea is to make them as inconspicous as possible. If the bomb squad was called in they have procedures they have to follow no matter what they think it might be. WHile it does not hurt to a label a Geocache, it won't change thnigs once the bomb squad is called. Quote Link to comment
Devil's_Advocate Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 I've been caching for over almost 3 years, and I have heard of this happening numerous times. Here is an article from 2003 where this happened as well. Is this a bomb? Nope, just a geocache. Just remember.. in today's day and age make sure you MARK the container very well. Otherwise it may meet the same fate as above.. BTW -- Try to avoid making caches out of tubes or pipes. The main reason this one met it's doom was because A. it was made out of a large white pvc pipe. B. The owner did not mark the outside of the container. C. it was hidden in a rather visible location. D. A paranoid farmer happened to notice it. E. Cache was located at bottom of telephone pole next to a major interstate freeway. A+B+C+D+E = a bomb scare. In all actuality, all it takes is D. Quote Link to comment
PodunkPaul Posted October 26, 2005 Share Posted October 26, 2005 If some of the officers are Geocachers why didn't they just search Gc.com to see if there was a cache at that location before they blew it up. Hmmm, let's see... If I were a nefarious induhvidual, I would replace the contents of a legitamate cache with an explosive. Lotta good looking it up on the website is going to do, unless I were a really dumb sort and signed the log as "T: Everything L: Bomb" We had a cache go missing at a local school that was a project when someone playing at the playground found it and turned it into the police. But, after a week or so to get everything worked out the cops loaded it with goodies and all was good again. Quote Link to comment
+Enspyer Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 Yeah yeah that happened to me. Detonated my cache! How dare they!? It's now replaced in a tupperware container. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.