A security guard in Ohio changed how I scout malls

I was checking out this old mall outside Columbus last fall and this security guy caught me walking around the parking lot. He didn't yell or anything, just said 'you're gonna hurt yourself climbing through busted drywall, why not check the county tax records first?' I laughed but he was dead serious. Now I always look up property ownership and demolition dates before I even drive out to a site. Has anyone else gotten useful tips from people you'd expect to chase you off?

2 comments

2 Comments

verar211mo ago

Did your buddy end up taking that guy's advice? I had a friend who got a solid lead from a mall janitor of all people. He was scoping out an abandoned theater and this old guy mopping the floor told him the property was owned by some church group that met there once a month, so he could probably get inside any other day without hassle. My friend checked their website, saw they had Thursday prayer meetings, and found an unlocked side door on a Wednesday. Never would have thought to ask the cleaning crew.

parker_park81mo ago

Was that the same thread where someone said church groups are usually the easiest to predict because they have set schedules? I read that somewhere and it stuck with me. Your friend's story reminds me of a post I saw where a guy got into an old warehouse because the security guard's girlfriend worked at the coffee shop next door and told him which days they'd be short staffed. Crazy how random connections pay off more than planning sometimes. Do you think most abandoned spots are actually easier to access than people assume?