A word of caution to everyone....

[Gunswinger]

I decided to do a little curbing on Saturday since it was so nice. I just had a little time before dark. I headed to an area of town that is a little old and and also not the highest income area. I had hunted about 30 minutes and out of the corner of my eye I see someone aproaching me from across a street. I was busy with a target and yet kep and eye out. As he got close to me I stood up and took my head phones off. Wanted a clear way of dealing with him.. As I stood up I noticed out of the corner of my eye another person had moved behind me, he was in the middle of the street, moving toward me. I quickly backed and turned at the same time to place both of them in from of me. While I made my digger obvious. They quickly changed their tunes. I had originally saw or heard both of them, so I was suprised to stand up and they were not together. Just a word to the wise make sure when alone that you keep an eye out for where people are in relation to you. Both of them had been drinking. Could have been bad. Thanks and Happy Hunting.

 

[Magyar]

Thank God you were not attacked by these lurkers.
Last month, as I was detecting in broad daylight at a near-by beach,
I returned to my car to find the side window totally smashed in ...and a
Sterling Silver cross that I had on my rearview mirror was gone.

Earlier , I had seen two people walking along the boardwalk drinking from a
bottles wrapped in a paper bags....I was suspicious, but I too, was alone and
was helpless...I think they are the two who smashed the window..

 

[Greg from Mi.]

Alot of old coins are in the bad side of town. Always nice to hunt with a friend.
Glad your alright
Greg

 

[steve in so la]

of things. I always listen & move around so I am facing people when they pass. steve in so az

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

Did you make anything else obvious?

 

[Mike Chgo area]

n/t

 

[Pete in MI]

I once went to a playground by myself and the walkway to the playground was next to a house and the playground behind the house. It was a city park playground. I detected for awhile and kept hearing a Rotweiller inside the house barking in my direction. I heard someone yell at me to leave...he was not polite about it at all. His threat of sicking his Rotweille on me made me rethink further (and any future) detecting in that playground. I left and he further stood by his front door making rude comments and his dog barking at his side, as I loaded my van to depart.

Another incident was at a county park where I was approached by a 'over zealous' parks worker. He wanted to throw his weight around and told me there was NO detecting at all at the park....he even brought out a laminated sheet with the policy on it. He ranted and raved. I was cool, calm, and collected and armed....with a letter of explanation of the policy from the county parks superintendent. It explained everything in the simplest form so even an idiot could understand it...and he gave me his phone number, etc. to call in case there was ever a problem. I politely showed this guy the letter...which I had many copies of and gave it to him. After reading it he said 'don't tear up the park' and left.

I only had that letter with me because I had been in that same park in the past and other people tell me different things. I could detect on the beach and not in the water, in the water but no where else, on the beach and in the water but not on the grass, on the grass and the beach but not in the water and then this guy with no where at all. So had to have clarification to show I was a serious detectorist and knew right from wrong. Never had another problem after that at that park as I think the guy (a hired hand) gave it to the manager of the park. There is also a Sheriff Dept. branch office within the park and I had no intention of being escorted to the jail by these good guys.

Yep, pays to know what is going on around you and also in being prepared...know the rules of parks before you go there.

 

[Pete in MI]

glad you were not harmed. Do you have anyone near you to detect with? Safety in numbers.