Cache container switcharoo.

[medoug]

I have a nice ammo can geocache hide which was recently getting reports of water in the container. I thought that was odd as it ammo cans seldom leak and this one had been out in the elements for about 1 year without any issues. Thinking that maybe the seal got damaged, I went to visit the cache to do maintenance armed with a replacement ammo can.

 

When I got to the hiding spot, instead of the nice sealed ammo can that I had hidden, there was a cheap Stearlite unsealed-type plastic container. Inside was the original dry logbook in a its original ziploc bag along with some water-damaged items. Also inside was the original laminated container label which had been removed from the ammo can and placed loose in the crappy container.

 

It appears pretty obvious that a geocacher found my cache, thought "Hey, nice ammo can. I want it." and swapped the ammo can out for a poor-excuse of a geocaching container. Based on the hiding spot, it would not be likely that a non-cacher would have accidentally found it. This is especially true since some effort was attempted to keep the cache valid.

 

This is the 3rd ammo can container cache that I lost in the last year. I suspected the first 2 to be stolen by muggles. At least one of those I suspect was stolen due to the obvious geotrail leading to the cache combined with geocachers repeatedly not hiding it with the natural camouflage concealing it. In none of these cases was the container identified as an ammo can in the geocache description, but just a regualar-sized container.

 

So that's my story. I guess I need to stop hiding nice expensive ammo cans or add 30 lbs of concrete to each of them to make them undesireable "boat anchors". Geocaching is in a sad state these days when cheap nanos rule and quality cache containers are nabbed by other geocachers.

Edited July 23, 2014 by medoug

[+Manville Possum]

So that's my story. I guess I need to stop hiding nice expensive ammo cans or add 30 lbs of concrete to each of them to make them undesireable "boat anchors". Geocaching is in a sad state these days when cheap nanos rule and quality cache containers are nabbed.

I have a "well used" 7.62mm can anchored with bolts in 80 lbs of concrete ready to deploy. I feel you Bro.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Manville Possum Hunters

[+T.D.M.22]

I only have one ammo can cache out now, and it's literally bolted to an old foundation. Someone wants it that bad to do the work to remove it, they can have it, along with the bolt holes.

 

My last ammo can was changed to a tree- and it was cut and stolen. The one before that was placed where I had another cache out for 2 years I think, and the ammo can was gone in less than a year.

 

You could always fill it with something heavy- I helped with a cache that's filled with 300 pounds of sand from sandbags, plus the water in the sand.

[+The_Incredibles_]

If you want to hide a nice container, put it 10km up a hiking trail. OK, actually even just 1km would be enough.

[+Isonzo Karst]

"these days"? - the first time I had an ammo can taken and replaced with a cheap container was in late 2004. Cacher clearly came prepared to make the swap, and somehow rationalized doing it. Brought a camo painted large pretzel jar, took my can, left the contents in their piece o' garbage container....

 

Re geotrail, yep, that's inevitable. You can't really blame cachers for the effects of gravity on earth and plants.

You can get out during or near the end of whatever is your high season for caching, and move the can - so the geotrail leads to nada (at least you can do this until someone surrounds your ammo can with micro powertrail every 530ft so that you've got no room to shift...)(then you pull your can and find a new place)

[+Team Microdot]

I've seen this done in the UK on a puzzle cache which had, in fairness, been abandoned by the CO.

 

Whoever took it was clearly relying on the fact that puzzle caches get fewer finds and that nobody would notice.

 

I noticed.

[+ngrrfan]

If you want to hide a nice container, put it 10km up a hiking trail. OK, actually even just 1km would be enough.

Even that doesn't work at times. I had one chained to a tree in a remote area and it went missing. The chain had been cut and everything was taken.

[4wheelin_fool]

Sounds like you need to hide another, and be sure to mention ammo can in the description. Just make sure the game camera is hidden a bit better..

[+emmett]

.

 

Considering the average Geocacher does not have sufficient character to trade even or up with stash, and that many are not honest enough to log their visits if they fail to find the cache, it comes as no surprise that some will actually steal a nice container. Certainly can understand your disappointment but don't expect it to change. I have found that retirement as a cache owner is a fine solution to this problem. Seems like others are doing the same. In my area, new cache placements are way down and new high quality cache placements are all but non-existant. Of course, GC.com is plenty responsible for that trend but negligent cachers share much of the blame as well.

 

.

[+L0ne.R]

Sounds like large authentic Lock & Locks (not the knock offs) are the way to go. Water tight, long lasting. I have yet to hear that people steal them and replace them with cheap throw-away containers. Sad to read that stolen ammo cans are becoming the norm. In my area they are becoming rare and expensive. A small ammo can costs about $20, if you can find one at the surplus stores.

[+BAMBOOZLE]

Sad situation and its been going on for awhile....... down trading has been going on forever. I find making mine PMO helps but I don't put out many ammo cans anymore.

[+redsox_mark]

I had that happen to a friend of mine. Someone swapped the Ammo can with a cheap container.

It's sad but it does happen.

[+Bubbles&Bonkers]

Sad situation and its been going on for awhile....... down trading has been going on forever. I find making mine PMO helps but I don't put out many ammo cans anymore.

 

What's PMO?

 

This is disheartening because I have an ammo can I'd like to place...

[+ClaraJean/JLDossett]

I've seen one disappear here as well on a popular hiking trail. They replaced it with a large plastic ziplock bag.

 

I've purchased a few plastic ammo cans and hope they stay in place. My one and only real ammo can is the final stage of a mutistage cache, deep in the woods. Hope it does stay in place.

[+DadOf6Furrballs]

I have one of these I want to put out someday (the one on the right), but I'll probably need to half fill it with concrete AND chain it to a tree.

 

[+Bear and Ragged]

Sad situation and its been going on for awhile....... down trading has been going on forever. I find making mine PMO helps but I don't put out many ammo cans anymore.

 

What's PMO?

 

This is disheartening because I have an ammo can I'd like to place...

 

Premium Member Only.

Only those that pay (Premium Members) can see the cache page description, and coordinates.

(Doesn't stop non-PM's from finding and logging, but does make it harder for them!)

[+wimseyguy]

My last ammo can was changed to a tree- and it was cut and stolen. The one before that was placed where I had another cache out for 2 years I think, and the ammo can was gone in less than a year.

 

That sounds like some awesome camo, got any pics of that one?

It was probably muggled by a lumberjack

[+geodarts]

I just lost an ammo can last week. It was your typical hide on a nice spot that requires a significant hike (or a bike/hike), so in some ways six or seven years was a good run for it. I can't blame cachers for it since it was taken and not replaced, but I am not sure I will put out another can in that location.

 

Things go missing as part if this game. Ammo cans. Geocoins. Nice trade items. It's not that the game has changed, but that people are people.

 

As long as someone does not take my parking meter in the woods cache. That would be hard to replace.

[+Ambrosia]

It probably depends on where you live. Maybe around 2004, we had an ammo can thief that stole most of the local ammo cans, although fortunately, not one of mine that I had in town. That thief disappeared, though.

 

Right now, we have around six ammo can hides (although one is in another state). All of them have been there for years, one of them is right in town and has been there for seven years. Another one up in the mountains, although technically a park and grab, is nine years old.

 

I'm hoping another thief doesn't ever come through, because I couldn't afford to replace them with more ammo cans.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Ambrosia

[+ngrrfan]

I'm hoping another thief doesn't ever come through, because I couldn't afford to replace them with more ammo cans.

Actually, Plano makes a plastic ammo "can" in either shotgun shell size or the typical 30 and 50 cal sizes at very reasonable prices starting at about $6.

[+lamoracke]

.

 

Considering the average Geocacher does not have sufficient character to trade even or up with stash, and that many are not honest enough to log their visits if they fail to find the cache, it comes as no surprise that some will actually steal a nice container. Certainly can understand your disappointment but don't expect it to change. I have found that retirement as a cache owner is a fine solution to this problem. Seems like others are doing the same. In my area, new cache placements are way down and new high quality cache placements are all but non-existant. Of course, GC.com is plenty responsible for that trend but negligent cachers share much of the blame as well.

 

.

 

So, someone not logging a DNF is just one step below stealing a cache container? I do find it silly to not log a DNF, but I never considered it dishonest or one step below theft.

[+narcissa]

There have been many ammo cans stolen around the Ottawa area. Similar circumstances, where the ammo can is replaced with a cheaper container. We don't think they're being repurposed as caches.

 

A couple of cachers have suggested that the ammo cans may be being resold, either as scrap, or to a place that resells them. Others have suggested that the ammo can thief is a self-appointed do-gooder who thinks that ammo cans aren't appropriate cache containers.

 

Anyway, it's a crappy thing to do.

[4wheelin_fool]

If it becomes a problem, I suggest painting the inside with some kind of ultraviolet paint and a name to identify them.

[+Ambrosia]

I'm hoping another thief doesn't ever come through, because I couldn't afford to replace them with more ammo cans.

Actually, Plano makes a plastic ammo "can" in either shotgun shell size or the typical 30 and 50 cal sizes at very reasonable prices starting at about $6.

I've thought about that. But I've found one in the wild and it really wasn't holding up that well.

[+Ma & Pa]

I'm hoping another thief doesn't ever come through, because I couldn't afford to replace them with more ammo cans.

Actually, Plano makes a plastic ammo "can" in either shotgun shell size or the typical 30 and 50 cal sizes at very reasonable prices starting at about $6.

I've thought about that. But I've found one in the wild and it really wasn't holding up that well.

 

There was a sale of plastic ammo cans a while ago and I bought a bunch for a series I was putting out. They seem to be doing well except for one that a caching friend brought back to me. A clear cut logging operation went through the area and tore the ammo can to shreds.

.PAul

[+emmett]

.

 

Considering the average Geocacher does not have sufficient character to trade even or up with stash, and that many are not honest enough to log their visits if they fail to find the cache, it comes as no surprise that some will actually steal a nice container. Certainly can understand your disappointment but don't expect it to change. I have found that retirement as a cache owner is a fine solution to this problem. Seems like others are doing the same. In my area, new cache placements are way down and new high quality cache placements are all but non-existant. Of course, GC.com is plenty responsible for that trend but negligent cachers share much of the blame as well.

 

.

 

So, someone not logging a DNF is just one step below stealing a cache container? I do find it silly to not log a DNF, but I never considered it dishonest or one step below theft.

 

I was not making a relative value assessment on each transgression. Obviously stealing is worse. I was just noting different examples for which there is a lack of honor of some type. In the case of DNFs there is some gray area.

 

For example, I was tight for time, visited briefly and wasn't able to give it a good search ... then post a DNF or post a note but post something. Perfectly acceptable either way as long as you post. If you visited, searched, did not find and are ashamed at the failure and do not post, well that's just plain lame and, frankly, dishonest unless you don't post your finds also. Show some respect for the cache owner who would like to know you were there.

 

At any rate, the geocaching community is comprised largely of people who simply make up their own rules without regard for the greater good or integrity of the game. Can't think of any other game, hobby or sport where people just do whatever they please.

 

.

[+T.D.M.22]

I have one of these I want to put out someday (the one on the right), but I'll probably need to half fill it with concrete AND chain it to a tree.

 

 

I was actually looking at ammo cans today. The little 30 cal one was going for $25. I just couldn't justify that price only to have it go missing. I thought about getting one like the one one the right. Put one of those giant pencils in there, and make a logbook to match...

 

My last ammo can was changed to a tree- and it was cut and stolen. The one before that was placed where I had another cache out for 2 years I think, and the ammo can was gone in less than a year.

 

That sounds like some awesome camo, got any pics of that one?

It was probably muggled by a lumberjack

 

Not the exact one but one of these. It was 2-3 feet long>>>

Edited July 23, 2014 by T.D.M.22

[+Uncle Alaska]

Cheaper Than Dirt (online) had 30 cal ammo cans for around $9.00 each recently. Obviously more with shipping, but way less than $25

[+T.D.M.22]

Cheaper Than Dirt (online) had 30 cal ammo cans for around $9.00 each recently. Obviously more with shipping, but way less than $25

 

Ya but I'd probably pay a $25 duty when it gets to Canada. I do love that site if I could only order from it without shipping killing me...

[+BlackRose67]

If you want to hide a nice container, put it 10km up a hiking trail. OK, actually even just 1km would be enough.

Not always.

 

In the area I live in, Ammo cans disappear quite regularly.

I have one out for a night cache and it's tethered to tree with aviation cable. Anyone wants it, they have to work for it.

It's also rather distinctive, and my info is written inside it in UV ink.

[+EScout]

The concrete idea is good.

I used my metal stamp kit (letters and numbers) to punch the geocache number on the lid and can.

I also glued rocks to the exterior. Covered all sides with rocks about 2 inch size. You can use epoxy but silicone caulk is very strong. Then spray flat camo paint.

However after having cans taken from my regular caches, I recommend them only for multi-caches.

[+Pork King]

While this hasn't happened to me (or anyone in my area as far as I know... maybe an isolated incident), but it's things like this and other things that is causing me to seriously consider retiring from geocache hiding. The only thing stopping me from quitting hiding is the fact that I don't want to see my area degrade into nothing but P&G micros, but I don't think it's working. I hid a 1.5/2.5 multicache and a 2.5/2.5 traditional, both of which required about a mile walk on level hardpack, over a month ago. Neither have a FTF (or even a DNF).

[+Team AZGems]

I've had a few ammo boxes stolen, including a 4 mile multi night cache ammo box. Do to the nature of the hide, it was unlikely a muggle, but you never know.

 

All my macro hides used to be ammo cans, not so much anymore.

[+sholomar]

Lots still around here...either there are less do gooders or the distance required to get from one to another (cost of gas) makes it impractical to take them. I detest thieves personally. Get a job and buy one yourself.

 

I use lock n locks myself and have a couple plastic ammo cans at the ready. There are already a couple people in this area hiding micros by the thousands so Im not touching those if I can avoid it though sometimes its necessary to use one

Edited July 31, 2014 by sholomar