[Chaos-l] Awareness

[Mark Lerch]

I used the Farrington ramp with a friend not too long ago. We were gone briefly, when we got back, the back of his truck window was smashed in and various goods stolen from his truck.  It was evening. The police told us that robberies are extremely common at Jordan and at Farrington, as well as other malicious activities, with the implication that some of them are more organized.

So I would not be surprised if some ill-intended people become keyed in on small group activities going on there at night.  Having a lot of obviously heavy equipment set up does broadcast the limitation of one's mobility and ability to act defensively.

Mark

From: chaos-l-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:chaos-l-bounces at rtpnet.org] On Behalf Of Jayme Hanzak
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 10:39 AM
To: CHAOS
Subject: [Chaos-l] Awareness


Dear CHAOS members,



The following is an account of an incident that happened just a few days ago.

I send this out as information only and to make you aware.



The gentlemand sending this to us is not a member of CHAOS or any astronomy club.

They were just using the ramp as an observing site like we do.



-------



The Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society,



My purpose for this email is to bring to the attention of and give
warning to all those who might wish to use Farrington Point on Jordon
Lake as a place for observing by describing an event which occurred on
the night of August 30. It was quite late, approaching midnight, when
my granddaughter, her father and I were just finishing our outing with
our telescope there. We were suddenly approached by two men who came
from the direction of the boat ramp on the right fork road to a point
near the large tree which sits out in the field where we were set up;
strangely, they were on foot. This is a considerable distance, as much
as 800 ft. I have since learned, and I was quite surprised by the fact
that they had walked this distance. In all the times I’ve used this
place, no one had ever approached me in this manner. One man told us
they had just finished being out on a boat fishing and thought we must
be members of your organization since he had received an email from
you describing an event which was planned for this location on that
night. All the while I noticed this man seemed to be trying to edge
his way ever closer to me, so much that I became uncomfortable. When I
backed away he followed and started what appeared to be an effort to
get himself behind me. The second man was standing near my
granddaughter and her father who were seated ten or twelve feet away
during this time. As I continued to maneuver away from the first man
my granddaughter’s father noticed this strange behavior and rose
suddenly to his feet in my (our) defense. He is quite a large muscular
man and can appear very intimidating. His presence backed the man near
them away immediately ... . Needless to say, they both rather abruptly
changed the manner in which they were acting, disappeared in the
direction from where they had come, and we proceeded to load our
equipment peacefully and leave. I should say that we never heard the
sound of a boat or vehicle before they arrived nor after they had left
our presence. All this could have meant nothing, or as I believe, we
had managed to avoid a probable robbery attempt planned by these two
men. Because they had used the name of your organization, “ CHAOS “,
as a premise on which to approach us, I thought it important to inform
you of our experience. Everyone please stay safe while you’re out
there trying to enjoy a pleasant evening of astronomy.

------



As we all know, when folks see a telescope, they want a look.

I'm just send this out to remind all of us to be safe.



Clear Safe Skies,


Jayme Hanzak
CHAOS President

CHAOS
P.O. Box 3001
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-0842
http://www.rtpnet.org/chaos/
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