Paranormal teams complain that they can not get to investigate important sites, because many haunted areas are closed to investigators. Why has this happened? Trespassing!
Here’s a great piece of advice when investigating: ALWAYS get written permission from the owner to be on the property at that specific date and time (including a list of investigators.) Without proper authorization, you can be arrested for criminal trespassing. If there is a gate, or even a simple chain baring your path and you enter without written permission, you will also be charged with Breaking & Entering. Take one stone from the site and you stand to be arrested for property theft as well.
No matter what someone says, research the property and contact the owner. Your reputation is at stake! Get all permissions in writing, and remember, all properties require permission.
Some would argue that graveyards are public property, they are not. Although they are open to the public daily, after hours these sites are secured. Many of the properties are state-owned, in escrow or belong to a church or religious groups. If you believe a site is truly abandoned, go to local courthouse and search records to confirm the fact. Property that is overgrown or in disrepair does NOT mean it has been abandoned. So when the law stops your group you better have your permission documented. Only an owner or specified caretaker can give permission for access.
Areas around Wilmington that are strictly off-limits include the Maco area, the so-called “meat packing plant” (very dangerous and a known toxic dump), Ft Fisher, Ft Macon and all state/ federally owned property. You can always contact owners and request permission, offer a donation etc. But do not get the reputation as a trespasser.
Would you allow a criminal into your home?
Check a few “paranormal” websites, many boast team pictures in a grave yard. These teams immediately become suspect and should be avoided as they apparently do not know the law, care to obey it, or respect the property of others. There are exceptions to this rule, a few may have permission, but that is rare. Pleading ignorance of the law with an arresting officer doesn’t work.
Another problem with the ghost hunting fad includes those who demand money for a service that is basically an unproven science. Teams have been known to coerce “donations” in the form of travel expensed, equipment needs etc. I ran into a team on the net who charge $200 for a local visit and $1800 for out-of-town. Many teams charge for the removal of “possessed objects”, home blessings/ cleansing or the capture and removal of demons! I noted one “meetup group” that performs exorcism for a fee!
Too many groups misrepresent their experience, knowledge and training, which is clearly fraudulent. Self-proclaimed “experts”, dermatologists, fake psychics, teams who offer worthless certifications, the greedy and the thrill seekers continue to make the research more difficult and contribute to the closing of many sites.
Investigation and research into the unexplained is a calling, unfortunately to many it is just a game or a thrill. Too many times these so-called ghost chasers enter a home, find all sorts of evil “ghosts”, “demons”, get no proof and generally scare the pants off of the poor folks who trusted and looked to them for help. Because they are poorly trained, what had been benevolent haunting can explode into more violent activity. The thrill seekers leave and go home, the clients are left to stay in the terror that team created.
How can we protect the public from fraud and exploitation? Simple: Education!. Port City Paranormal
Here’s a great piece of advice when investigating: ALWAYS get written permission from the owner to be on the property at that specific date and time (including a list of investigators.) Without proper authorization, you can be arrested for criminal trespassing. If there is a gate, or even a simple chain baring your path and you enter without written permission, you will also be charged with Breaking & Entering. Take one stone from the site and you stand to be arrested for property theft as well.
No matter what someone says, research the property and contact the owner. Your reputation is at stake! Get all permissions in writing, and all properties require permission.
Some would argue that graveyards are public property, they are not. Although they are open to the public daily, after hours these sites are secured. Many of the properties are state-owned, in escrow or belong to a church or religious groups. If you believe a site is truly abandoned, go to local courthouse and search records to confirm the fact. Property that is overgrown or in disrepair does NOT mean it has been abandoned. So when the law stops your group you better have your permission documented. Only an owner or specified caretaker can give permission for access.
Areas around Wilmington that are strictly off-limits include the Maco area, the “meat packing plant” (very dangerous and a known toxic dump), Ft Fisher, Ft Macon and all state/ federally owned property. You can always contact owners and request permission, offer a donation etc. But do not get the reputation as a trespasser.
Would you allow a criminal into your home?
Check a few “paranormal” websites, many boast team pictures in a grave yard. These teams immediately become suspect and should be avoided as they apparently do not know the law, care to obey it, or respect the property of others. There are exceptions to this rule, a few may have permission. Pleading ignorance of the law with an arresting officer doesn’t work.
Another problem with the ghost hunting fad includes those who demand money for a service that is basically an unproven science. Teams have been known to coerce “donations” in the form of travel expensed, equipment needs etc. I ran into a team on the net who charge $200 for a local visit and $1800 for out-of-town. Many teams charge for the removal of “possessed objects”, home blessings/ cleansing or the capture and removal of demons! I noted one “meetup group” that performs exorcism for a fee!
Too many groups misrepresent their experience, knowledge and training, which is clearly fraudulent. Self-proclaimed “experts”, demonologists, fake psychics, teams who offer worthless certifications, the greedy and the thrill seekers continue to make the research more difficult and contribute to the closing of many sites.
Investigation and research into the unexplained is a calling, unfortunately to many it is just a game or a thrill. Too many times these so-called ghost chasers enter a home, find all sorts of “evil spirits”, “ghosts”,and “demons”. There is no proof of their “findings” and this generally scare the pants off of the poor folks who trusted and looked to them for help. These fabricated ghosts now must be banished which adds more to their fee . Because these groups are poorly trained; what had been benevolent haunting can explode into more violent activity. The thrill seekers leave and go home, the clients are left to stay in the terror the so-called team has created.
How can we protect the public from fraud and exploitation? Simple: Education!. To this end,Port City Paranormal is promoting “Investigate the Investigator” A program that informs the public to the dangers of having strangers investigate your home. Who are the investigators, have they done this before ? Check their references !
It is our duty to teach the public what to look for and what to expect from a paranormal “team” in this field without certifications, or licensing. We are also bound by ethics to” first do no harm”.
It is our duty to teach the public what to look for and what to expect from a paranormal “team” in this field without certifications, or licensing. We are also bound by ethics to” first do no harm”.
Port City Paranormal © Award winning Paranormal Research and Investigations. Located in Wilmington North Carolina. Please see our official website http://www.portcityparanormal.com for more information on our team, our investigations and more.
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