Dangers of metal detecting at night

[Nugget]

Well that was an interesting evening, apart from having my detector attacked by a pit bull I also ran into a group of youths on Newcastle Beach. There were about 12 or so with most of them being male, at a guess aged between 13-17 and made of stone no doubt. Wheres the parents? Anyway thats a question for another day.

When I arrived I was greeted with whistle noises and was later approached by two young girls from the group asking what I was doing and if they could have a go, I said no of course. Call me paranoid but I lacked trust in their motive for coming over to me, I felt they were sent over to suss me out.

The boys in the group were mock fighting, wrestling or whatever you want to call it and I didnt like where it was headed so I ended up leaving. I was actually looking forward to the school holidays (more people = more drops), but now I'm not so sure :/

I might have to start going early in the morning again, Im pretty sure they wont be on the beach at 5am lol

A pretty disappointing night, all up I scored $5.15 and a thin gold plated chain.

 

[Pete_The_Prospector]

Yep its that time of year again! I had beer bottles thrown at me on Bar Beach by 2 hero's not long back, I picked one up and walked over to the steps as they were on the top of the canteen. I said if you throw one more empty bottle I will shove it up your arrrrrrrr, If you gonna throw them at me make sure they're full ya dicks, they then left!!!!!! Argh good times lol.

 

[Nugget]

Maybe we should meet up over the school holidays for our nightly hunts and start hunting in packs hahaha

 

[Pete_The_Prospector]

Yeah we will get a pack mentality going lol

 

[dave14110]

Yah I've had simular problems & I allways take someone with me. I was in a Park a while ago 3 young blokes walked past 1 hero says to me while digging that it's his he lost it the other day. After diigging out yet another bottle top I walked over to Mr hero Dropping all the bottle tops that I had just dug into his lap. Then said well pick up your rubbish you pig face to face standing right in front of him he didn't say word & I then turned & walked away. Not a real good idea to try be smart **** to a bloke that's digging it's harder for them to see your size. I am 6'1" & 115kg
I shouldn't of done this as there was 3 of them & it could of got nasty. But it was funny to see this individual's face.

 

[Nugget]

Another run in with drunken idiots on the beach last night, calling me a scab, yelling out abuse, followed me to my car, all the usual BS. Im slowly getting over night hunts :|

 

[Dogmatic]

Haven't had any problems yet, haven't been doing it long enough. Was thinking while doing Nobbys one night, head phones on, head down, oblivious to all around me. I would have no idea if someone walked up behind me. 8)

 

[the duck]

Pick the one the mouths of the most pretend your hard of hearing and walk up and deck him the rest will run

 

[Nugget]

Haven't had any problems yet, haven't been doing it long enough. Was thinking while doing Nobbys one night, head phones on, head down, oblivious to all around me. I would have no idea if someone walked up behind me. 8)

I used to always detect with headphones but have now decided against it on night runs. There's too many idiots about and once alcohol or drugs are involved it can be very dangerous out there. You need to be aware of your surroundings.

I've done many night runs on Nobby's and have only ran into trouble once (the other was at Newcastle), but unfortunately that's enough to make me question whether it's really worth it.

I'm now all for detecting in pairs or groups at night.

Purhaps Pete the Prospector might comment on what recently happened to him.

 

[Pete_The_Prospector]

Yeah sure why not. I was doing a late night/early morning tot lot assault around the Lake Macquarie area as I couldnt sleep. It had been a busy weekend due to the fine weather; this all happened a couple of weeks ago by the way, anyway I was on a roll and onto my 4th park. The funny thing was, every time I heard a vehicle go past I looked up and saw it was a local police car, same one every time so they mustnt have been to busy. It was as if they were following me to each park, which I did not mind at all. After being at park number 4 for around 10 minutes, a Hilux Ute pulled up and out jumped 3 young guys. 2 got push bikes out of the back. They walked over to the park and sat down at one of the tables. As they walked past I got the usual, hey mate I lost a dollar here last night and I also lost a mobile phone. Standard answer was, yep no problem I will let you know if I find it. They were all drinking. I steered clear of them and about 15 minutes later the driver got up and walked of towards his car. On the way past me he said, go and get a real job you fat c*#t and kept walking to his car, got in and drove of. Yay I thought to myself, one less goose to worry about. :/ But that was only the start. About 10 minutes after this, one of the remaining 2, obviously the one with the biggest balls, mouthed up and said, mate are you f@%$^ng serious making that F*&%#ng noise, its pi%$^ng me of! :| I thought to myself, you have to be kidding. I walked over to them sitting at the table, WRONG THING TO DO, and I politely said, WTF did you just say to me, This is the first time I have ever challenged anyone like this whilst detecting but I just snapped, honest. For the next couple of minutes it was a full blown argument about how its his park and I should p*@ss of as I'm making to much noise and blah blah blah he was drunk, and his mate just slothed into the seat as if he wasnt there. I had my pick which I use in tot lots to loosen and scrape the wood chips with. Its the same as a Walco pick but only a bit smaller, plus the fact that I sharpen both ends. I was tapping it on the table when all of a sudden the mouth jumped up, smashed his bottle on the table and said, are you trying to intimidate me with your fu%$&ng pick, I'm going to glass you, you c@*t. It was like a split second decision. I rose my pick to hit him but the way I was holding the thing, it would have went through his head, I dont like prison food, so I quickly spun it around as if stabbing with a knife, and smacked him right in the forehead with the flat blade. It sounded like a fair dinkum Gonk. He fell straight on his back, still holding the broken bottle. A car was about to drive past, good old local patrol, I yelled as loud as I could and they heard me nice and clear. The first thing the constable said was, you didnt just hit with that pick did you, I said no sir, I Gonked him with it. After explaining the whole story I was told it might be time I headed home, I agreed. All this time the drinker number 2 just sat there, probably oblivious to what had all just happened around him. They got taken away in the back of the divvy van; I got a phone call 2 days later just to follow up on what had happened. Moral to this story, carry a Gonk, No I mean if someone says something smart, leave. This could have ended very badly indeed. And I got grounded from night hunts by the missus 8.(

 

[the duck]

i was told once that you should never have a weapon near your front door bat golf club etc as it shows premediation, i got told have a didjeridoo and use that, good weapon and no one would think of it as a weapon your honour i just grabbed the closest thing to me lol
But yes it could have ended badly i agree, a smart man once said, heroes run in my family

 

[Dogmatic]

Bloody hell PP, not a position anyone wants to find themselves in. Good that he got what he deserved. The police should have charged him with assault given his threat and intent to carry it out. The grog certainly brings the best out in some

 

[Pete_The_Prospector]

It all went down that quick, crazy night. Yep that grog sure does affect some

 

[DigDig]

I have not had any trouble yet. Only issue was couple of lads shouting at me from a car as they drove past. I would have done the same 20 years ago! As for violence I was born in Paisley. "Swift and blinding" is the motto.

 

[Land Rover]

G,day to Everyone,

Just joined up so I may be a bit scratchy at first !!!! I recently read a post by Nugget if My memory is correct, about detecting Alone After Dark ,and the risks that go with it in todays society and someone recalled a not so enjoyable encounter they had ,Well its a sign of the times I guess as up until last week It never worried Me . I was coin detecting about Newcastle after dark and for the first time I felt uneasy about the amount of anti social behavior and the taunts from Low Lifes , My digger never left Ones hand 1!!! several locations were no go zones because safety !! After 10 years of detecting it is a bit confronting !

Regards L/R

 

[the duck]

it is sad but im not sure its todays youth at fault more todays parents, because of political correctness and everyones rights we are probably good targets as we dont fit into either catergory :lol:

just play safe out there no hobby is worth harm, and i think night detecting creates curiousity some times

this is imho so no need to comment im old and silly

 

[Nugget]

Hey LR, first of all welcome to the forum.

You know I think I've night detected at the beach maybe twice since my run ins with the local *********s.

Now that I've got a young fella to think of, I can no longer justify risking my life for a measly few bucks.

I think group outings are the go now when detecting at night.. There's too many shady people in this world.

Stay safe.

Cheers,
Nugget

 

[Land Rover]

G,day Nugget,

Yep ya dead right! A few times ya get a comment but when comment start to be threats thats a different matter !!! I used to work alone in the bush and it never worried Me , even the bush can now be a bit of a worry ...not to the extent the beach or towns are ,But when Your alone,, away to buggery in the bush prospecting Your not always sure when NON prospecters turn up what their intentions May BE !!!! Up until now they have all been good !

Regards L/R

 

[Dogmatic]

I was up in the hills the other day on my own in the middle of no where. Didn't pass a car for over an hour traveling along dirt tracks.
While I was standing in the creek I couldn't shake the feeling that I was not alone. I don't spook easily and can't say that I was terribly
worried but still had the feeling I was being watched. Not sure how many times I turned around thinking someone was behind me.

Sadly only 3 specks of gold and 4 of the tiniest green tinged gems/glass/don't know.

 

[sluice_goose]

I often attend fires on and around the local beaches being in Fire and Rescue NSW and ill be the first to tell you that it can be a hostile place at times. The beach at night seems to attract a breed of intoxicated teenagers.

You won't get me out there alone, beaches are way to isolated up here.