What can be done about vandalized caches?

[Crazy4]

What can be done about vandalized caches?
Here’s the story. I recently deactivated one of our caches (Crazy4 Adventure? #2 – GCVHCV) after it had been abused twice. The first time someone stole the entire cache and when we went to replace it, we found someone had substituted an old bottle with cigarette in it. I replaced that garbage with our new cache. The most recent finder has commented about our new replacement cache,
“cache was full of water and smelled awful someone left a cigerette in it. I emptied the water but everything except the log was wet.”
I immediately deactivated it while contemplating if we should replace it again, after moving it somewhere more secure.
While doing our own cache finding today, we found a message in someone else’s nearby cache that had disturbing language filling up a large portion of that cache’s log sheet. The disturbed individual, among other sick things, claimed to have “defiled the geocache at the cemetery in the Blue Hills I pissed in it.” He was obviously refering to OUR nearby cache GCVHCV. This disturbed person also included in his obscene message the names of a local banker and the school principal. He then signed it with his own name! (Dumb criminal? or probably a diversion?) Researching this person’s name revealed that there is an actual person who has recently graduated from the local high school and this person seems to have a history of being in trouble.
I’m thinking of contacting the sheriff office, as names were mentioned.
I’m also wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem?
(We took the “desecrated” log sheet as I did not feel it would be appropriate to leave it for anyone else to find.)
I have scanned it as evidence.
Now what do I do????
Oh BTW, the cache with the obscene message had been recently replaced by zuma! as a courtesy to the cache owner. I’m wondering now if there was a similar problem with that cache?
Thanks,
Team Crazy4 leader

[LDove]

Others may disagree, but unfortunately he really did not do anything illegal (nobody actually caught him urinating in public). I don’t think there is much you can do. 😕 This is one reason I have begun to make many of my caches premium because people can’t find them with just satellites. I would just shut them down for awhile and maybe in six months or so try again. Just my opinion. I don’t think it is worth the hassle.

[Mathman]

I too have had a cache (Cry Me A River Park) vandalized twice. I was hesitant to archive it since it was our first cache that we placed. The second time included some of the same language that you mentioned and stated we were dumb for replacing “this.” again. I ended up moving the cache about 75 feet and turned it into a micro. I do know that this cache was used as an “example” for a local high school Gym class. Another one nearby had been burned. There was obviously one kid who didn’t like caches. Hopefully others who use “regular” caches for classes will consider using temporaries that they themselves set up.

[gotta run]

There’s nothing you can do. As I was once (correctly) told on these forums, we are essentially leaving debris in public when we place a cache and having that debris discovered and taken is part of the game. So change it to a smaller cache, definitely a different spot since it is now discovered, and use your best camo skills.

On the Left Side of the Road...

[Lostby7]

I gave up easily when my caches were taken….but at the same time that allowed for others to use the area to place new caches….which they soon did….but at the same time I do often think about my first cache…..I wish it was still in play.

[Team Hemisphere Dancer]

I once had the cable guy get an FTF on one of mine and he wrote a note on the og that the cache was in his way. I guess I haven’t had those kinds of problems with my caches. They are usually washed downstream or stolen outright. Then I either replace or archive.

[seldom|seen]

@LDove wrote:

I don’t think there is much you can do.

Well, not in the way of pursuing remediation from this character anyway. However, there is one BIG step you and everyone else can take to help prevent vandalism of caches and that is to encourage your fellow cachers to hide their finds as good or better than they find them.

I have found over time that the reason mine go missing, with the exception of mother nature vandalizing them, is poor re-concealment after finds. I try to express this whenever I see one of mine in the open. I tell everyone that I can, “If you see an S|S cache before you are standing on it, it probably wasn’t re-hidden the way it was supposed to be”.

Case in Point (literally). I just found 15 minutes ago that “Misplaced his Flybox” has gone missing. My brother was out fishing 3 weeks ago and decided to check on it and found it in the wrong spot, out in the open, plain as day. He re-hid it. Yesterday he was out again and was curious about whether it was mother nature at play and discovered the cache was missing. It was cabled in place so someone physically removed it. My best guess is a critter was messing with it, it fell from it’s hidey hole and a fisherman spotted it. Now it’s up to me to figure out a solution, but since that spot is jeopardized, I’m not going to put a replacement in play there ad I know it will go missing again.

[EnergySaver]

I guess depending on what was said about the local banker and principal, you might want to turn THAT over to authorities … especially if it was threatening in any way. If you didn’t have a name it would be meaningless … but assuming you have the RIGHT name, it’s usefull information. However, I wonder if it really is the vandals name, or is it some other person’s name, that they wish to get in trouble.

About the cache … my past experience … sounds like if you keep rehiding the cache, they will keep vandalising it. I would suggest archiving the cache. Either for good … or wait 6 months or more a hide a new version of the cache (maybe a smaller size cache). It’s possible if the vandals stop finding a cache there, they will leave the spot alone. Keep in mind that they likely have a computer, so they can keep an eye on the cache electroncially … everytime you announce the cache is up and running again, they know it’s time to go out and vandalise it again. So a period of “nothing” is your best bet … or give up on the spot all together and just move on.

Another thought … is that EXACT spot important to you. Or could you hide a new cache in a different spot in the general area. If that works, I would recommend a multi-cache or a puzzle … so that if vandals are electronically watching for a cache in the area, they have to do more than just walk up to the area to find it.

[Timberline Echoes]

We have two on school property with permission. One was urinated in and we tossed it and did not replace it. Our hybrid-letterbox was stolen a few weeks ago. We have replaced the container but not the stamp. If it goes missing again we will just archive it. There are no other good spots near that park.

My cousin found one in MO last week that was covered in toilet paper that had been used… double yuck!

TE

[Crazy4]

OK, In my attempt to give the background story, I wasn’t totally clear in what information I was asking for.
What we’re most concerned about is…..
A. the obscene nature of the message that was written on the logsheet for GCW6HJ (this is not our cache, it is about 10 miles from our vandalized cache.)

B. the fact that that message confirms that this same person actually admitted to vandalizing OUR cache by “pissing in it”, (confirming my already suspicious thoughts.)

C. the fact that someone found our cache without apparently realizing urine was the liquid they had reported within, (as indicated in their finder comment.)

D. the fact that they mentioned the names of two locally well known people, (admittedly NOT in a directly threatening manner.)

1. So, if someone is pissing in caches, do Geocachers want to be warned?
2. Should we notify local law enforcement? We had a local geocaching contest here in Rusk County last month that the county put on and there was some good publicity FOR geocaching and I now suspect some of their caches may have been tampered with also.
3. Our vandalized cache was at an old, almost abandoned cemetery out in the woods of the Blue Hills. I’m wondering if our situation is “possibly” connected to the grave robbing of the infant from the Pioneer Cemetery near Rice Lake last week. No comparison as far as seriousness, but just a possible “connection”. (I know, I’m paranoid! )
Thanks for your advice so far!
Crazy4 Team Leader

[lone_gunman]

the county placed caches? If they are in not-so-public areas, you may want to warn them

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