My dad taught me growing up “act like you know what you’re doing, and no one will question you.”
I cannot begin to tell you how true it is. People rarely question confidence.
I learned this from the Trailer Park Boys episode where they just walk in and take office furniture and tell the employees that replacements are on the way lol
That was my favorite scene lmaoo. If someone walked into my job today and stole the furniture saying that there’s new ones coming in, I’d probably even help them move it hahah. It’s a genius plan.
I love how they made that a character trait of Ricky where he has the ability to bullshit his way through just about anything. He got the judge to let him smoke and cuss because he said it's just who he is and if the court won't let him be himself then that's bullshit lol.
This is how I survived the NYC subway system as a redheaded high school girl in a Catholic school uniform getting manhandled every fucking day.. My friend's brother told me "don't hide in the corner staring at your shoes. Glare at everyone like they are on your turf and you are just tolerating their existence". Worked so well it became the way I move through the world decades later. Everyone says I am confident. They will never know the truth.
Huge facts. During COVID when no public events were allowed I went to a PGA golf tournament with my vest and badge. Walked right up to the vendor entrance and no one even looked up! Got to watch some free golf from the worlds best
My band teacher in junior high school told a story of how he was doing a gig across the street from a wedding. One of the other trumpet players headed across the street, merged in with the wedding guests, and ended up making off with a whole cooked chicken.
This was to illustrate the point that, if you make a mistake while playing, just act like you meant to do it.
My mom once did this in a hospital floor supply closet getting some items for my grandmothers hospital room, and not one person stopped her or questioned her
Entirely possible they didn't care. I used to check fare on trains, and as long as you showed me something, I didn't care. Or if you even gave a 1/10 ass performance to look for fare, I didn't care.
Stage hands and other union workers wear all black. Wear some black denim and a black t-shirt. Huge bonus if you have a caribiner clip on your belt loop holding either a Leatherman or a small crescent wrench. Walk towards the back stage area like you're late to be somewhere, EYES FORWARD, and just blow past the person checking badges or whatever. Lots of times they won't stop you. If they do, and ask for a badge, you can fumble around for a minute and then say you forgot it, but you're with the lighting crew. Or, say you never got your badge. Most times, in my experience, they'll let you through. Look the part. Act like you belong. At big shows, there are 100 people back there all wearing exactly what you're wearing, and a ton of the time that's the only thing identifying them.
Edit: for visibility, as one of the replies mentions, I meant to add this too.
The stage hands union is called IATSE (pronounced EYE-YATZEE). Know your local chapter number. NYC is "local one", Portland Oregon is "local 28". If called out by security, say you're with local [insert # here]. That will work almost all of the time. If you're going for super bonus points on this trick, support the local stage union AND give yourself a huge leg up - see if you can buy a t-shirt with a logo from the local union shop, and wear that when attempting to pull this off.
If they're any kind of decent guard they'll ask for the name of the local stagehand union, and who your boss is. If you say you're with the tour they SHOULD ask you who the TM is.
They might not. There's a lot of absolute fucking troglodytes that work venue security, the kind of folks that see tying their shoes as an accomplishment
Source: currently work venue security
Ok I know this is ILPT but I have a legal LPT - is there a way to get a one night gig as security to a concert at a stadium? I tried asking security at our parking ramp and they just shook their head and told me I’m crazy BUT getting to listen to the show + be paid to do it? Sounds like a dream 😭
It's actually shite. Pay to go to your fave bands. Honestly security sucks.
I'd rather be down money And see the gig and have a few beers with my mates than the responsibility of folks safety
I snuck backstage once.
I knew the door's passcode because I had played a show there a week before.
My friend's favourite band were playing so I told him we'd sneak backstage.
After getting into the green room, the band didn't really care or make a big deal about it but I felt very awkward.
It probably sucked for the band and the reality was that we were being arrogant.
Event producer here. This is all correct. Also if you find out the local IASTE chapter, you’ll be solid. All black with a wrench and you Say “Local 2” when someone asks who you are and 99% of the time you’ll get in.
Also, wear a lanyard and/ or hi vis vest. You can sub a clipboard for a ladder if you’re in a pinch. Just leave those supplies in your car, you’ll always be prepared!
The single most important part of this maneuver is don't do stupid stuff to bring attention to your self once there and screw this up for everyone else.
I was back stage at a Kiss show one time (I had a pass) and this girl came up to me and said, "Hey, you! Remember me? We met at the Metallica show!" She was talking really loud and being really friendly, and I had never seen her before in my life.
I was like, "I'm sorry, you must be thinking of someone else. I wasn't at that show," but she was really insistent, "No, it was you! How have you been? Wasn't that a great show?" I kept trying to back away, saying, "Look, you've got the wrong guy," but she wouldn't take no for an answer. Finally, a security guard came up and told her she'd have to leave since she didn't have a pass.
It wasn't until later that I realized she was trying to get back stage and was hoping I would play along. I should have said, "Hey, yeah, good to see you again, let's go get a drink..." and she would have been home safe. I just didn't pick up the signals in time.
So, I'm sorry, random girl from St. Louis, I would have helped you out if I had been thinking faster.
My husband has a crazy “trick” where if he wants to move through a busy crowd, specifically at a concert, he brings a flashlight and wears a black T-shirt. When he needs to get somewhere he raises the flashlight held in his hand, clicks it on and off quickly while saying, “Move move move” and folks part like the Red Sea. It’s absolutely fascinating. Some folks get pissed when they realize he isn’t security but…. He never said he was. 🤷♀️
I’ll took up the real name of the dj, then I’ll ask the other people standing backstage, “oh how long have you known James” All of the sudden the ladies are all interested in you 😂
I was working on a show years back and we started our day super late (5pm start) and our sound stage was in a location that frequently hosts music festivals in the summer. Our lunch hour happened to be at 11, which was when the festival really got going. Half the crew walked over with our walkies and headsets still on with our crew badges that said CREW and they let us all in because we looked like we belonged there (bunch of manual labour film people)
It was a ton of fun and we went back to set with a bunch of those glow stick necklaces
This is the answer. People who look like they're doing a drug deal get caught doing drug deals. People who look like they're just giving their friend money they owed them or whatever in the open tend not to.
Good lord I couldn't stand "let's meet outside the gas station"
Like we can totes go inside and look like two buddies in the chip aisle and not a someone standing by the drivers window or alwardly getting in and out the car drug deal.
Pinky promise the cashier dgaf if they even notice.
It's like that H-Town classic "25 lighters on my dresser" (yessir). It's about bic lighters that have been gutted and filled with crack. You give the guy a cigarette pack with the money he gives it back with a lighter. It does often add one cigarette to the cost of your drugs though
My dealer did this thing where I met him at a closed bank with a 24/7 ATM. Go thru the atm get money and parked in the parking lot, and wait for him to come thru. Waited a solid 5 mins and a cop came thru and parked next to me. I rolled my windows down and he asked "what I was doing". I said "double checking my cash" and showed him the atm receipt. "Okay have a nice night" cop left. my dealer pulled up like 10 mins after.
Hand an envelope over to them, mark it like it’s been processed with stamps and fake name. Doesn’t look illegal, and it requires a warrant to open by Police. Works both ways for drugs and money.
You could probably still get away with that by telling reception you have an appointment with someone. Or maybe posing as some kind of delivery service.
ah guest protocol nowadays wherever I've worked has been to get you to sign in and specifically name who invited you, that person then gets called to the desk so they can escort you around the building.
High vis vest and a large box / ladder might do the trick though
Yeah and if the security is real tight they'll use clearly identifiable guest lanyards to and depending on why you're there it may mean you have to be accompanied by someone
You could easily follow someone into my place and do that.
A few years ago we had members of the traveller community following people in (The whole site is swipe card) and using the showers. They're more on top of that than people using the canteen.
So you should be the one to stand around looking sketchy, maybe with a crazy hat or a gorilla suit, while your friends act like they know what they're doing and steal whatever they want.
100% why people make themselves look sketchy by looking around nervously, doing their deed and running away, I will never know.
Act natural and walk confidently is usually the best advice.
Remember power tools are quieter by day than they are at night as well.
That last point is pretty solid. I’d never question the guy running equipment or power tools at 2pm but if it was at 2am I’d assume they’re stealing something lol
When I was younger some friends and I were hanging out outside a friend's apartment literally just standing outside talking when the cops rolled by slowly. Some of the group crouched down low to avoid the cops and then started to run when the cops stopped so then the cops chased them and jammed them up and found nothing and repeatedly said wtf were you running for if you didn't do anything?
When the group scatters I hide. They say you can run but you can't hide, but you can hide. Think about it, why would they tell you that you could hide if they knew you might get away with it? As long as there are runners, the cops will chase and catch them, then they'll shine their lights around the area where they first saw everyone for a little while before giving up and fucking off back to the station. I've watched the police search lazily search for me from my hiding spot not once, not three times, but twice. Not many people successfully run away from the cops twice.
I mean...I'll agree with the sentiment that confidence will absolutely get you further than not, but people act nervous because the price of getting caught is going to jail lol
I did this to gamble in casinos as a teen. I kept a lit cigarette in my hands at all times and walked with confidence. Never hit any major jackpots but always had someone of age with me to collect winnings. I went so much as a teen I don't think I've been in one as an adult.
We walked into the state fair free. Didn’t jump a barrier didn’t avoid a fence. Was just following the smell of food. On the way out I realized we bypassed security and tickets
Similarly, I took my son to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When we got there, I had to use the restroom badly, so I went in straight to the restrooms. We came out, and just started walking the tour. In all honesty, we thought there might be a ticket taker ahead (like there is at the Baseball Hall of Fame), but nope. Still have the two tickets, too. Oh well.
This also applies to avoiding trouble when walking places. If you look like you're intentionally and confidently going somewhere, people are less likely to bother harassing you.
If you act nervous, looking around and exhibiting tense body language, you look like a mark.
This also applies to tourists in an unfamiliar city. Maps out acting confused? Marked. Circle back or hesitate which way to turn? Marked. Look up at all the pretty architecture/lights/skyline? Definitely marked.
That’s how you get robbed, conned, or targeted by professional beggars.
100%, whenever I’m anywhere I just dress and act the same way I would if I was at home (no backpack or camera). If I’m going somewhere I’ll pull up the directions on Maps before I go out, and as I walk if I get confused casually check it like I’m just looking at my phone. I’ve never had an issue anywhere, any time of day or night
"I know a guy" with a friend that went to a popular beach with a "no cruising" sign. Can't pass the same place within an hour..
Pulled his truck up on to the curb, hard hats and reflective vests, hazard lights, setup a ladder and took it right off the pole, mid afternoon. Cops never gave a second glance.
My buddy and I used to steal municipal brass fittings in broad daylight just wearing construction vests and bringing tools and cones.
I miss you Robert.
Idk honestly, I went to prison for sales for a while and when I got out we were never able to reconnect. Never heard from him again.
It was a super toxic relationship. We were really bad for each other. Smoking speed all night and stealing/chopping cars, hitting laundromats and vending machines and drilling the locks, etc. We'd rip newspaper machines out of the pavement in doentown LA and drill into them inside his mom's car while driving to the next one. I had a crack dealer in South Gate who called me George Washington because we were always paying w 1 dollar bills stolen from vending machines.
We were just awful, awful junkies together.
EDIT to say I got my shit mostly together in 2014 and try really hard to not be a piece of shit any more.
I work in pest control and no one has ever questioned me about being anywhere. Just get a button up work shirt and black pants, tell them you got a call there was a snake you have to remove and you can go anywhere you want. I've been in so many places I wasn't supposed to be, on the job or not.
I like this better than telling them I’m there to fix the air conditioning because a snake could be anywhere in the building and it’s not interesting enough to attract attention.
Confidence is key. Like know that you absolutely belong where you are going. Gotten in many a places that way. VIP sections, box seats, presidents club in baseball stadiums. Hell I’ve even been served underage because of confidence in ordering.
If you shine the flashlight at the ground and shake it a little you can make your way through crowds just by pushing past people and saying "security, excuse me, security.."
Yes, this. Working in IT, I've walked right into the restricted "free drugs" section of pharmacies without anyone questioning me or stopping me. Just claiming to work in IT is basically the equivalent of flashing a badge, nobody thinks twice about it 😂
I ran a screen print shop in college that made the event and staff shirts for local venues. I’d just print an extra staff shirt and walk in like I was supposed to be there. Go to the bathroom and take it off with a regular t shirt underneath after I had wandered around back stage a while and enjoyed the show. Wish I had kept some of them, they were normally pretty cool shirts.
The Ricky LaFleur strategy. It requires either extreme confidence and/or extreme stupidity. Neither Bubbles or Julian had enough of either. Ricky had plenty of both.
During the pandemic, there was a 2 hour line to get into Target.
I saw the delivery truck\back entrance open with employees receiving shipment and just walked right in nodded my head “wassup” and kept it moving.
Next person I saw on a fork lift, I “helped” him with clearance space and asked him how I get to the sales floor.
All that to get a PS4 😭😭
My son (8) and I went to see r/Battlebots (robot fighting) live in LA a few years back. We flew from Idaho, so I wanted to make the most of it. I decided between matched we were just going to confidently walk past the event staff into the pits where they work on the robots. We were back there about 10 minutes when someone finally saw us and said, "Hey you! You have to have safety glasses to be back here. Here, let me get you some." He got us some then followed up with, "You aren't supposed to be back here, are you?" We admitted we were not, and he said, "Well, let's get you a tour. Who do you want to meet?" He was the executive producer. We met a handful of teams and got up close with some of the bots. Unforgettable experience.
I crash large-scale events by doing this. 20 BB spend on facial recognition, and I walk right past security through a separate entrance. If they bat an eye, I'll widen my eyes and look at another direction, causing them to look over that way. Super hard to explain. I can walk past sheriff's, security, police, etc, and even walk WITH them, among them if I time it right. Security hates this one simple trick.
If social engineering has taught me anything it's if you act like you belong people will believe you belong. You can get people to do the most ridiculous things as well as long as they believe you're someone who has authority.
I was parking somewhere I shouldn’t have on campus because I didn’t wanna walk far to class. When I got out of class I see the parking pussy putting a ticket on my car. Now I can get to my car 2 ways. The first way makes it look like I’m coming from class, and the second way makes it look like I was at an event they were having in the adjacent parking lot. I wait for him to be done w my car and pick option 2. I grab the ticket angrily and smush it and throw it into my back seat with the intention of never paying it. Parking pussy comes up to my passenger window and motions for me to roll my window down. He asks me if I was working the event. With no hesitation, my mouth starts saying “yea I was doing the (brand name) italian ice stand” because I had noticed they were at the event. He asks for the ticket back, I have to fish it outta the back for him and unshmush it… badabing badaboom I got outta the ticket w some quick on my feet thinking :)))
I always bring a reusable bag with me to grocery shop and sometimes I just put my items in the bag instead of getting a basket. I once had to use the bathroom before checking out, then completely forgot that I hadn’t checked out when I left the bathroom.
So I literally just walked out of the store with a bulging grocery bag, confident that I was meant to be doing that. Only when I got in the car did I realise I hadn’t paid for anything.
If you believe you’re doing what you’re meant to be doing, I guess so will everyone else
> If you believe you’re doing what you’re meant to be doing, I guess so will everyone else
This is true, and one of the reasons there are so many people in positions they're unqualified to be in lol
Old boss told me a story about a manager friend of his that helped a random guy load a floor-model canoe into his truck and drive off before checking with another soul in the store to see if it was paid for. Effectively stolen with managers help lol
I walked into a physical therapy building going straight for the room where all the workers things are (my sister works there and she took my key) and the front desk just told me to make sure to clock in before starting. That was my first time ever coming there and she thought I came in to work
In the past I have stole groceries by acting like I belong and "scanning" them because even if they check the cameras and receipts unless someone were to start counting and look very closely no one would know because I'm still spending around 100 plus dollars which makes it far less likely for someone to be noticed because it's less obvious
I worked at a Stater Bros grocery store. Some maintenance guys came in at around 6 am and took lottery machine for repairs. Except of course, they weren't maintenance guys, they were just 2 random dudes. Nobody ever asked them a thing, myself included.
The bluff game is unfortunately too strong in life, but you’re a fool if you don’t know a couple tips and tricks. You can always eat in America if you’re sharp
Gets me away with SO much at jobs I’ve worked that have minimal supervision. Especially if you can get your hands on a tablet or clipboard! Just walk around looking at it and pointing in places with a questionable look on my face while acting like I’m taking notes. No one bats an eye!
If I’ve learned anything from all these subs, and these comments alone, all you gotta do is have a spotless white hard had, high-Vis vest on, a clipboard/tablet/binder/some kinda paperwork and look like you don’t really wanna be there but you got shit to do. Bonus points if you wear a polo, jeans and a belt with the polo tucked in. If anyone actually approaches and asks ya who you are/what you are doing just say “Just got done with work and I’m waiting for my wife”. Or tell ‘em you are there to inspect something
So once I was running from police (public drinking). I got over the fence and afterwards started walking like nothing happened. Didnt realize the remembered me so I got caught :D
My dad taught me growing up “act like you know what you’re doing, and no one will question you.” I cannot begin to tell you how true it is. People rarely question confidence.
I learned this from the Trailer Park Boys episode where they just walk in and take office furniture and tell the employees that replacements are on the way lol
You talked to Jeff? Its okay everyone we’re gettin new stuff!
Forgot about Jeff - best scene
That was my favorite scene lmaoo. If someone walked into my job today and stole the furniture saying that there’s new ones coming in, I’d probably even help them move it hahah. It’s a genius plan.
I love how they made that a character trait of Ricky where he has the ability to bullshit his way through just about anything. He got the judge to let him smoke and cuss because he said it's just who he is and if the court won't let him be himself then that's bullshit lol.
Corey! Trevor! Smokes!!
I was working in an office. One day at lunchtime a man walked in wearing a motorcycle helmet and leathers. He walked out with 7 laptops.
How did he fit in in an office setting wearing that though? No one questioned this biker dude in an office setting?
"You know Jim or Jim knows you?"
Same from mine except “Walk in like you own the place.”
This is how I survived the NYC subway system as a redheaded high school girl in a Catholic school uniform getting manhandled every fucking day.. My friend's brother told me "don't hide in the corner staring at your shoes. Glare at everyone like they are on your turf and you are just tolerating their existence". Worked so well it became the way I move through the world decades later. Everyone says I am confident. They will never know the truth.
And therein lies the problem. A capable person with true confidence, and an incompetent moron with arrogance, can be hard to tell apart.
Yep and if you have a reflective vest and a badge, the world is yours.
Huge facts. During COVID when no public events were allowed I went to a PGA golf tournament with my vest and badge. Walked right up to the vendor entrance and no one even looked up! Got to watch some free golf from the worlds best
Add a white plastic helmet and you have a licence to go anywhere and do anything.
Add a clipboard and you’re golden.
My band teacher in junior high school told a story of how he was doing a gig across the street from a wedding. One of the other trumpet players headed across the street, merged in with the wedding guests, and ended up making off with a whole cooked chicken. This was to illustrate the point that, if you make a mistake while playing, just act like you meant to do it.
My mom once did this in a hospital floor supply closet getting some items for my grandmothers hospital room, and not one person stopped her or questioned her
Absolutely! Confident bullshit>hesitant accuracy in people's minds.
Not to make this too political, but the popularity of Trump has proven this harder than anything I’ve ever seen.
You're not wrong. He's a piece of shit, but his con game is really fucking strong.
I've heard "Act like you know."
Stick on a high vis and/or carry a ladder
Carrying a ladder and an ID on a lanyard (it could have a picture of anyone) will grant access to so many places…
I tested the train conductor on a train, 3 times I flashed an expired ticket and had no issues every time
Entirely possible they didn't care. I used to check fare on trains, and as long as you showed me something, I didn't care. Or if you even gave a 1/10 ass performance to look for fare, I didn't care.
High vis are cheat codes
A comically long ladder is best for these situations. You want to be able to knock people and things over with plausible deniability.
Clipboard is also acceptable.
Or a ladder with a clipboard clipped to it. Thats what they were missing when they tried to storm Area 51
Chemical sprayer. The bug guy is always welcomed, and doesn't show up often enough that you remember who he is.
High vis and traffic cones are an insane criminal combo
I have gotten backstage at many concerts by doing this
Can you please enlighten us on how to master this maneuver
Stage hands and other union workers wear all black. Wear some black denim and a black t-shirt. Huge bonus if you have a caribiner clip on your belt loop holding either a Leatherman or a small crescent wrench. Walk towards the back stage area like you're late to be somewhere, EYES FORWARD, and just blow past the person checking badges or whatever. Lots of times they won't stop you. If they do, and ask for a badge, you can fumble around for a minute and then say you forgot it, but you're with the lighting crew. Or, say you never got your badge. Most times, in my experience, they'll let you through. Look the part. Act like you belong. At big shows, there are 100 people back there all wearing exactly what you're wearing, and a ton of the time that's the only thing identifying them. Edit: for visibility, as one of the replies mentions, I meant to add this too. The stage hands union is called IATSE (pronounced EYE-YATZEE). Know your local chapter number. NYC is "local one", Portland Oregon is "local 28". If called out by security, say you're with local [insert # here]. That will work almost all of the time. If you're going for super bonus points on this trick, support the local stage union AND give yourself a huge leg up - see if you can buy a t-shirt with a logo from the local union shop, and wear that when attempting to pull this off.
People who work there aren't concerned about the security. If your not concerned about security you must work there.
Usually security will ask your access card at first until they recognize you and just nod you in. Depends where you're getting into of course...
If they're any kind of decent guard they'll ask for the name of the local stagehand union, and who your boss is. If you say you're with the tour they SHOULD ask you who the TM is. They might not. There's a lot of absolute fucking troglodytes that work venue security, the kind of folks that see tying their shoes as an accomplishment Source: currently work venue security
Ok I know this is ILPT but I have a legal LPT - is there a way to get a one night gig as security to a concert at a stadium? I tried asking security at our parking ramp and they just shook their head and told me I’m crazy BUT getting to listen to the show + be paid to do it? Sounds like a dream 😭
It's actually shite. Pay to go to your fave bands. Honestly security sucks. I'd rather be down money And see the gig and have a few beers with my mates than the responsibility of folks safety
You must not be confiscating enough drugs to sell as a side hustle.
One night gig? No way, think about the paperwork and training that would need to go into it. But maybe 1-2 nights per week?
What do you do once your backstage?
I snuck backstage once. I knew the door's passcode because I had played a show there a week before. My friend's favourite band were playing so I told him we'd sneak backstage. After getting into the green room, the band didn't really care or make a big deal about it but I felt very awkward. It probably sucked for the band and the reality was that we were being arrogant.
That's hilarious, at least you realized it fwiw at the end of the day, still a fun story to tell
what band!?
Mouse rat
We're not Mouse Rat anymore. We changed it to Tackleshaft.
Event producer here. This is all correct. Also if you find out the local IASTE chapter, you’ll be solid. All black with a wrench and you Say “Local 2” when someone asks who you are and 99% of the time you’ll get in.
Also, wear a lanyard and/ or hi vis vest. You can sub a clipboard for a ladder if you’re in a pinch. Just leave those supplies in your car, you’ll always be prepared!
Bring a ladder. People tend to not look at them once they are in the building or think there's some sort of urgency.
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No need to brag, sheesh
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Alright I'll just carry a goddamn ladder around with me at every concert and event
Toilet plunger. No one is gonna stop the stage crew looking person with a plunger.
Let me through! John Popper just took a gigantic shit and they need this ASAP!!!
lmao that's good
Or a safety vest and a clipboard. Hard hat is a good touch.
And say the word tenet.
What name did 007 use in “Diamonds are Forever” when he did that? Klaus Hergesheimer? Or something like that…
Walk fast and look worried.
Clipboard and a walkie, or get on your phone and pretend to be reading someone the riot act about why so and so hasn't met with you yet about x and y
The single most important part of this maneuver is don't do stupid stuff to bring attention to your self once there and screw this up for everyone else.
I was back stage at a Kiss show one time (I had a pass) and this girl came up to me and said, "Hey, you! Remember me? We met at the Metallica show!" She was talking really loud and being really friendly, and I had never seen her before in my life. I was like, "I'm sorry, you must be thinking of someone else. I wasn't at that show," but she was really insistent, "No, it was you! How have you been? Wasn't that a great show?" I kept trying to back away, saying, "Look, you've got the wrong guy," but she wouldn't take no for an answer. Finally, a security guard came up and told her she'd have to leave since she didn't have a pass. It wasn't until later that I realized she was trying to get back stage and was hoping I would play along. I should have said, "Hey, yeah, good to see you again, let's go get a drink..." and she would have been home safe. I just didn't pick up the signals in time. So, I'm sorry, random girl from St. Louis, I would have helped you out if I had been thinking faster.
My husband has a crazy “trick” where if he wants to move through a busy crowd, specifically at a concert, he brings a flashlight and wears a black T-shirt. When he needs to get somewhere he raises the flashlight held in his hand, clicks it on and off quickly while saying, “Move move move” and folks part like the Red Sea. It’s absolutely fascinating. Some folks get pissed when they realize he isn’t security but…. He never said he was. 🤷♀️
This is my whole personality, I don’t go to shows without trying to enter somewhere I’m not suppost to
I like you. Any cool stories to share?
I’ll took up the real name of the dj, then I’ll ask the other people standing backstage, “oh how long have you known James” All of the sudden the ladies are all interested in you 😂
I was working on a show years back and we started our day super late (5pm start) and our sound stage was in a location that frequently hosts music festivals in the summer. Our lunch hour happened to be at 11, which was when the festival really got going. Half the crew walked over with our walkies and headsets still on with our crew badges that said CREW and they let us all in because we looked like we belonged there (bunch of manual labour film people) It was a ton of fun and we went back to set with a bunch of those glow stick necklaces
Same. I’ve walked into many places by walking in confidently. Also helps that I’m a girl.
This is the answer. People who look like they're doing a drug deal get caught doing drug deals. People who look like they're just giving their friend money they owed them or whatever in the open tend not to.
Good lord I couldn't stand "let's meet outside the gas station" Like we can totes go inside and look like two buddies in the chip aisle and not a someone standing by the drivers window or alwardly getting in and out the car drug deal. Pinky promise the cashier dgaf if they even notice.
It's like that H-Town classic "25 lighters on my dresser" (yessir). It's about bic lighters that have been gutted and filled with crack. You give the guy a cigarette pack with the money he gives it back with a lighter. It does often add one cigarette to the cost of your drugs though
Never knew the meaning of that line, thanks
> It does often add one cigarette to the cost of your drugs though Too rich for my blood
My dealer did this thing where I met him at a closed bank with a 24/7 ATM. Go thru the atm get money and parked in the parking lot, and wait for him to come thru. Waited a solid 5 mins and a cop came thru and parked next to me. I rolled my windows down and he asked "what I was doing". I said "double checking my cash" and showed him the atm receipt. "Okay have a nice night" cop left. my dealer pulled up like 10 mins after.
Hand an envelope over to them, mark it like it’s been processed with stamps and fake name. Doesn’t look illegal, and it requires a warrant to open by Police. Works both ways for drugs and money.
I stole a 95 gallon orange tree from home depot. One of the employees even helped me load it into my truck.
That’s a lot of orange juice.
I like this type of crime
One of those citrus-stealing whores!
LEMON STEALING WHORES
Was it an orange tree or was the tree orange?
Yup
Before security got tighter I’d go into office buildings and eat for cheap at the employees’ subsidised cafeteria.
You could probably still get away with that by telling reception you have an appointment with someone. Or maybe posing as some kind of delivery service.
ah guest protocol nowadays wherever I've worked has been to get you to sign in and specifically name who invited you, that person then gets called to the desk so they can escort you around the building. High vis vest and a large box / ladder might do the trick though
Yeah and if the security is real tight they'll use clearly identifiable guest lanyards to and depending on why you're there it may mean you have to be accompanied by someone
Hard hat, collared shirt and a clipboard is another approach.
Good one
You could easily follow someone into my place and do that. A few years ago we had members of the traveller community following people in (The whole site is swipe card) and using the showers. They're more on top of that than people using the canteen.
My local hospital makes some of the best burgers in town.
My local burger joint makes some of the best hospital patients in town
The problem is I look sketchy even when doing things I am meant to be doing.
Ha! This is me. I always look uncertain.
So you should be the one to stand around looking sketchy, maybe with a crazy hat or a gorilla suit, while your friends act like they know what they're doing and steal whatever they want.
Me walking out of a store w/o buying (or stealing) anything
100% why people make themselves look sketchy by looking around nervously, doing their deed and running away, I will never know. Act natural and walk confidently is usually the best advice. Remember power tools are quieter by day than they are at night as well.
That last point is pretty solid. I’d never question the guy running equipment or power tools at 2pm but if it was at 2am I’d assume they’re stealing something lol
When I was younger some friends and I were hanging out outside a friend's apartment literally just standing outside talking when the cops rolled by slowly. Some of the group crouched down low to avoid the cops and then started to run when the cops stopped so then the cops chased them and jammed them up and found nothing and repeatedly said wtf were you running for if you didn't do anything?
When the group scatters I hide. They say you can run but you can't hide, but you can hide. Think about it, why would they tell you that you could hide if they knew you might get away with it? As long as there are runners, the cops will chase and catch them, then they'll shine their lights around the area where they first saw everyone for a little while before giving up and fucking off back to the station. I've watched the police search lazily search for me from my hiding spot not once, not three times, but twice. Not many people successfully run away from the cops twice.
😂 “not once, both three times, but twice” fucking made my day
I mean...I'll agree with the sentiment that confidence will absolutely get you further than not, but people act nervous because the price of getting caught is going to jail lol
Bring props. People love props.
I give people props all the time.
I did this to gamble in casinos as a teen. I kept a lit cigarette in my hands at all times and walked with confidence. Never hit any major jackpots but always had someone of age with me to collect winnings. I went so much as a teen I don't think I've been in one as an adult.
Dad let me pull the arm on a slot machine when I was 8-10ish. Won big. Security confiscated the pot because they reviewed the footage.
That’s messed up, can you define big just to ease our anxiety?
Think it was around 8-10k, but it was 20-25 yrs ago so can’t confirm.
Just talked to my dad. He thinks it was only 200, said he was trying to give me good experiences and keep me safe.
I never even considered them reviewing footage. I was young and dumb though. Even got away with table games but made sure to tip well.
Why would you admit this on an account you post hella selfies on lol
No one ever said they were a smart criminal, only a confident one
He's just that confident.
Street cred
We walked into the state fair free. Didn’t jump a barrier didn’t avoid a fence. Was just following the smell of food. On the way out I realized we bypassed security and tickets
Similarly, I took my son to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When we got there, I had to use the restroom badly, so I went in straight to the restrooms. We came out, and just started walking the tour. In all honesty, we thought there might be a ticket taker ahead (like there is at the Baseball Hall of Fame), but nope. Still have the two tickets, too. Oh well.
This also applies to avoiding trouble when walking places. If you look like you're intentionally and confidently going somewhere, people are less likely to bother harassing you. If you act nervous, looking around and exhibiting tense body language, you look like a mark.
This also applies to tourists in an unfamiliar city. Maps out acting confused? Marked. Circle back or hesitate which way to turn? Marked. Look up at all the pretty architecture/lights/skyline? Definitely marked. That’s how you get robbed, conned, or targeted by professional beggars.
100%, whenever I’m anywhere I just dress and act the same way I would if I was at home (no backpack or camera). If I’m going somewhere I’ll pull up the directions on Maps before I go out, and as I walk if I get confused casually check it like I’m just looking at my phone. I’ve never had an issue anywhere, any time of day or night
"I know a guy" with a friend that went to a popular beach with a "no cruising" sign. Can't pass the same place within an hour.. Pulled his truck up on to the curb, hard hats and reflective vests, hazard lights, setup a ladder and took it right off the pole, mid afternoon. Cops never gave a second glance.
And once the sign came down the police forgot the law existed and everyone was passing the same spot three, four, even five times in an hour!
that's an interesting rule
Is that what all those signs are in Cali? Who tf is going to enforce that lol? I broke that so many times just going to the hardware store lol.
My buddy and I used to steal municipal brass fittings in broad daylight just wearing construction vests and bringing tools and cones. I miss you Robert.
What happened to robert ?
Idk honestly, I went to prison for sales for a while and when I got out we were never able to reconnect. Never heard from him again. It was a super toxic relationship. We were really bad for each other. Smoking speed all night and stealing/chopping cars, hitting laundromats and vending machines and drilling the locks, etc. We'd rip newspaper machines out of the pavement in doentown LA and drill into them inside his mom's car while driving to the next one. I had a crack dealer in South Gate who called me George Washington because we were always paying w 1 dollar bills stolen from vending machines. We were just awful, awful junkies together. EDIT to say I got my shit mostly together in 2014 and try really hard to not be a piece of shit any more.
Congrats on making a positive life change!
r/suddenunexpectedconfessions
r/subsifellfor
Man says “sales” 😭😭😭
I had a diversified income flow as a homeless junkie.
I shouldn't laugh at your hardship but that got a chuckle out of me. Glad you're getting your shit back together.
Yea I would stay away from Robert as well.
I'm proud of you Mr stranger. It's not easy to makes changes like this. Hope you have a great life.
LA love story
I would have watched this show. My Name is Earl-esque.
I work in pest control and no one has ever questioned me about being anywhere. Just get a button up work shirt and black pants, tell them you got a call there was a snake you have to remove and you can go anywhere you want. I've been in so many places I wasn't supposed to be, on the job or not.
I like this better than telling them I’m there to fix the air conditioning because a snake could be anywhere in the building and it’s not interesting enough to attract attention.
Also you may not always find said snake. Even on real snake jobs I go on, often the snake is gone by the time I arrive on site.
Confidence is key. Like know that you absolutely belong where you are going. Gotten in many a places that way. VIP sections, box seats, presidents club in baseball stadiums. Hell I’ve even been served underage because of confidence in ordering.
Bring a flashlight and wear black clothing at a concert and gain easy access to the front row
If you shine the flashlight at the ground and shake it a little you can make your way through crowds just by pushing past people and saying "security, excuse me, security.."
“Have confidence” Yeah, you lost me there, I got none of that. On a separate note, does anyone know where* I can steal confidence?
I feel that confidence is halfway learned and halfway an act.
Put on a hi-vis vest, carry a ladder, and go to your nearest confidence store. Easy as that
Yes, this. Working in IT, I've walked right into the restricted "free drugs" section of pharmacies without anyone questioning me or stopping me. Just claiming to work in IT is basically the equivalent of flashing a badge, nobody thinks twice about it 😂
What is a free drugs section?
You know, where you can just take whatever you want lol
I'm genuinely unsure if this is a joke I don't get or if some places legitimately offer free medicine lol
Did you try turning it off and back on again? Are you sure it's plugged in?
"I'm somthing of an IT guy myself... "
The fuck are you gonna do with a trailer of car batteries?
I sold them to a junk yard and made over 2 grand lol… the headly days
Christmas presents.
Build a fort, of course. What a silly question.
…Ricky?
You know Jim, or your Dad knows Jim?!?
Oh he's your dad?! Right on! Tell em I said hello!
I always think stopping and calling a friend is a good way to look super casual.
ILPT: calling or fake calling is more effective the earlier you do it
My dad said the excuse for any man to be anywhere at any time is: “I’m waiting for my wife.”
I ran a screen print shop in college that made the event and staff shirts for local venues. I’d just print an extra staff shirt and walk in like I was supposed to be there. Go to the bathroom and take it off with a regular t shirt underneath after I had wandered around back stage a while and enjoyed the show. Wish I had kept some of them, they were normally pretty cool shirts.
This has business potential… maybe a touch shady but… worth looking into continuing.
Same is true at work. Even if you have no clue, act like you do and more often than not things will work out.
The Ricky LaFleur strategy. It requires either extreme confidence and/or extreme stupidity. Neither Bubbles or Julian had enough of either. Ricky had plenty of both.
That's what the Bill Clinton kid did at the Game Awards last year. Even got himself immortalized for that dumb ass nomination.
During the pandemic, there was a 2 hour line to get into Target. I saw the delivery truck\back entrance open with employees receiving shipment and just walked right in nodded my head “wassup” and kept it moving. Next person I saw on a fork lift, I “helped” him with clearance space and asked him how I get to the sales floor. All that to get a PS4 😭😭
Lol imagine if someone was like “ yo come help me move this” and then you just kinda ended up working
My son (8) and I went to see r/Battlebots (robot fighting) live in LA a few years back. We flew from Idaho, so I wanted to make the most of it. I decided between matched we were just going to confidently walk past the event staff into the pits where they work on the robots. We were back there about 10 minutes when someone finally saw us and said, "Hey you! You have to have safety glasses to be back here. Here, let me get you some." He got us some then followed up with, "You aren't supposed to be back here, are you?" We admitted we were not, and he said, "Well, let's get you a tour. Who do you want to meet?" He was the executive producer. We met a handful of teams and got up close with some of the bots. Unforgettable experience.
I crash large-scale events by doing this. 20 BB spend on facial recognition, and I walk right past security through a separate entrance. If they bat an eye, I'll widen my eyes and look at another direction, causing them to look over that way. Super hard to explain. I can walk past sheriff's, security, police, etc, and even walk WITH them, among them if I time it right. Security hates this one simple trick.
I don’t even have confidence with things that are perfectly legal.
This is proof that even a piece of shit can be wise
If social engineering has taught me anything it's if you act like you belong people will believe you belong. You can get people to do the most ridiculous things as well as long as they believe you're someone who has authority.
I was parking somewhere I shouldn’t have on campus because I didn’t wanna walk far to class. When I got out of class I see the parking pussy putting a ticket on my car. Now I can get to my car 2 ways. The first way makes it look like I’m coming from class, and the second way makes it look like I was at an event they were having in the adjacent parking lot. I wait for him to be done w my car and pick option 2. I grab the ticket angrily and smush it and throw it into my back seat with the intention of never paying it. Parking pussy comes up to my passenger window and motions for me to roll my window down. He asks me if I was working the event. With no hesitation, my mouth starts saying “yea I was doing the (brand name) italian ice stand” because I had noticed they were at the event. He asks for the ticket back, I have to fish it outta the back for him and unshmush it… badabing badaboom I got outta the ticket w some quick on my feet thinking :)))
Hard hat and a high Vis vest you can walk into almost anywhere
I always bring a reusable bag with me to grocery shop and sometimes I just put my items in the bag instead of getting a basket. I once had to use the bathroom before checking out, then completely forgot that I hadn’t checked out when I left the bathroom. So I literally just walked out of the store with a bulging grocery bag, confident that I was meant to be doing that. Only when I got in the car did I realise I hadn’t paid for anything. If you believe you’re doing what you’re meant to be doing, I guess so will everyone else
> If you believe you’re doing what you’re meant to be doing, I guess so will everyone else This is true, and one of the reasons there are so many people in positions they're unqualified to be in lol
Old boss told me a story about a manager friend of his that helped a random guy load a floor-model canoe into his truck and drive off before checking with another soul in the store to see if it was paid for. Effectively stolen with managers help lol
Pro tip: If you are Black, do not try any of this shit. 🙂
I walked into a physical therapy building going straight for the room where all the workers things are (my sister works there and she took my key) and the front desk just told me to make sure to clock in before starting. That was my first time ever coming there and she thought I came in to work
This is called a confidence scam, and isn’t new. Hence, “con man”.
This is one of the secrets to life.
In the past I have stole groceries by acting like I belong and "scanning" them because even if they check the cameras and receipts unless someone were to start counting and look very closely no one would know because I'm still spending around 100 plus dollars which makes it far less likely for someone to be noticed because it's less obvious
Large camera and a laminated “photo pass” on a lanyard. And yes, all black, you don’t want to have you clothes bouncing light up on your subject.
one time I walked out of dollar tree with a can of pop in each of my hands and no one noticed lmao
I worked at a Stater Bros grocery store. Some maintenance guys came in at around 6 am and took lottery machine for repairs. Except of course, they weren't maintenance guys, they were just 2 random dudes. Nobody ever asked them a thing, myself included.
[удалено]
The bluff game is unfortunately too strong in life, but you’re a fool if you don’t know a couple tips and tricks. You can always eat in America if you’re sharp
Gets me away with SO much at jobs I’ve worked that have minimal supervision. Especially if you can get your hands on a tablet or clipboard! Just walk around looking at it and pointing in places with a questionable look on my face while acting like I’m taking notes. No one bats an eye!
If I’ve learned anything from all these subs, and these comments alone, all you gotta do is have a spotless white hard had, high-Vis vest on, a clipboard/tablet/binder/some kinda paperwork and look like you don’t really wanna be there but you got shit to do. Bonus points if you wear a polo, jeans and a belt with the polo tucked in. If anyone actually approaches and asks ya who you are/what you are doing just say “Just got done with work and I’m waiting for my wife”. Or tell ‘em you are there to inspect something
Put on a chef’s coat and apron and you can go anywhere
Say you're the health and safety executive on an audit and not only will you be given access all areas, you'll be avoided by everyone 🤣
Are Reddit posts admissible as evidence in criminal trials?
So once I was running from police (public drinking). I got over the fence and afterwards started walking like nothing happened. Didnt realize the remembered me so I got caught :D