possible pool: plan of attack?

bored at work one day, and fiddling w/ google maps, looking at neighborhoods around mine for possible pools.

found this: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=hollywood ... s&t=h&z=20

it's maybe 2 miles from my house - haven't gotten a good look yet.

i realize this is a bit tricky. i've got a house/wife/kid/cats - wouldn't look good to end up in custody for trespassing. on the other hand, it seems unlikely i could just roll up to the place, knock on the door, introduce myself as an upstanding member of the community, and, er, coincidentally, skateboarder.

what would you do?

As you seem to care about the results of any illegal activity, the only other option is to front it out and knock the door. If you don't you will forever kick yourself, and you have nothing to lose this way but your dignity if you get told to f**k off.
A couple of observations: The pool is empty, with some dirty water in it, but judging by the leaf growth on the trees, its summer, so the pool isn't being used for swimming. The garden seems quite small, but is a little untidy, so the owners may not give a shit, or may be too old/infirm to look after it, a possible trade there. There is a flower/gift shop on the corner of Erie St and Baltimore Avenue called Wood's Flowers and Gifts. If you have the cash, after checking someone is in, (car) go to wood's and purchase a small posie, with your board in a bag (sieze the opportunity) knock the door and politely ask if it's ok to skate their pool? If they say yes, give 'em the flowers and skate. If they tell you to f**k off, then go home and give the flowers to your old lady, and post details of the upcoming backyard pool skate party on twitter/facebook etc.

^^^ thats a very wise Buffallo, did all the research & everything

^^^ thats a very wise Buffallo, did all the research & everything

Yeah well, we buffalos dont just stand around all day eating grass and farting you know. Not all day anyway.

a friend says google satellite images can be quite old - the watermark indicates that image was taken in '10. which could mean that spot is done, or full of water/crocodiles/pirahna, &c.

so the next step is to take a run by there.

appreciate the suggestions, buffalo. i wonder if a more oblique approach would work? say ...

1. meander through the backyard, as if on my way to a neighbor's.

2. if there's someone nearby, turn on the charm and say, "hey! is that your pool? that's a beaut! any chance i could skateboard in that?" you know, just go with the innocent approach.

3. hope they think, "aw, he's just a big kid - no harm letting him ride around a bit."

EDIT: my reasoning here is, if they know i've been stalking them (well, their pool), they may be on the defensive. if i "just happen to notice" the pool, they might be less likely to be.

*sigh*

long shot, i know.

Whats at the end of the back yard? If its accessable there is the opportunity for the "stand on bike peddles, stretch neck and peer over fence while trying to avoid lamp posts" approach

Whats at the end of the back yard? If its accessable there is the opportunity for the "stand on bike peddles, stretch neck and peer over fence while trying to avoid lamp posts" approach

hard to tell from the sat image. it's essentially in the center of a block - i could walk in from any one of four roads surrounding it. don't see any fences in the image, though.

1. meander through the backyard, as if on my way to a neighbor's.

Tempting, depends on the amaount of risk you're prepared to take, bearing in mind you are: a/ trespassing when the owner first sees you, putting you on the back foot already
b/ The right of Americans to bear arms
c/ Well, that's it really

1. meander through the backyard, as if on my way to a neighbor's.

Tempting, depends on the amaount of risk you're prepared to take, bearing in mind you are: a/ trespassing when the owner first sees you, putting you on the back foot already
b/ The right of Americans to bear arms
c/ Well, that's it really

ah, point taken.

i'll go ride around the streets over there for a bit, and get a sense for the neighborhood.

Offer to drain & clean it .
Offer cash & or trade off work.
If it's gonna be a barge get a quiet pump
Don't tell loads of people
On Repo's or For Sale's get some pool service magnets for the side of your car or truck.

If the owners are too old to use/look after it you could always offer to look after their gardens for them in return even if it's just cutting the lawn. A mornings work for an afternoons skate once a week or something

All good sugggestions above, we've had some success using a lot of those approaches. We've also used the "we're shooting a documentary/photographs for a magazine"approach which sometimes works. I've got business cards made in the name of a non existent photographic company which helps to make it look more professional too. Also take a waiver along as the most common objection we get is 'what if someone hurts themselves".

They're worried they'll get sued if you break something so be prepared. Otherwise just barge the f*cker when they're out!!! lol

Please note the Sat Image data on google is a few years old... most of the uk hasnt been scanned since 2007 not sure about USA ..

it now may be an empty property

Edit:- Map Data says c 2010 Google.... ask away

ha - zombie thread alert!

i checked it out a month or so back, when i originally posted. there's a 10' wooden fence around the entire property. no way to see what's back there, and a pretty obvious barge - it's a densely-residential neighborhood, with lots of folks around at all hours.

they'll probably kick me out of the "cool skateboarders club" for saying this, but i've moved on. plus, i now know the people i need to bro down with to get a pool, now. i'll work on them at some point, but i'm not in a rush.

[BOOMERDOG]

First rule of engagment, never blow a pool out by posting the location on the net..

First rule of engagment, never blow a pool out by posting the location on the net..

sure, but this isn't even close to a barge. i could post the street address - no one's skating it.

First rule of engagment, never blow a pool out by posting the location on the net..

unless its your find, the person who finds the pool gets to do what ever they want with it, including blow it out.

True Dat

ring the doorbell

when someone answers, kick the door in, rush em, tie em to their I'm a spammy wanker chair

do the same for the other occupants & ur sorted


jobsaguddun! skate on!