Go to worlds and get your car broke into...

[rsegrest]

Originally Posted by hardcopi

Maybe next year we should organize team patrols. Have each team volunteer a senior and a mentor to help patrol. Patrol in packs of 5-10 at a time and stick together. Most of security's job is to be seen. Let them know to observe and report.

Very bad idea. I note that you are mentor and that your team is associated with multiple high schools. Whether or not you are a teacher as well I do not know. I am and can tell you that my district would forbid us from going before letting us participate in any form of patrol of this nature.

It's like the old quote from MiB, "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky animals." Teenagers are the same way. One or two kiddos with an adult can be smart, multiple teenagers who may or may not stay with the adult to whom they are assigned...well let's just say that it would be too easy to mistake them for the wrong person under the right conditions.

Just my two-cents.

[Ozuru]

Originally Posted by hardcopi

Maybe next year we should organize team patrols. Have each team volunteer a senior and a mentor to help patrol. Patrol in packs of 5-10 at a time and stick together. Most of security's job is to be seen. Let them know to observe and report.

At night we'd need cars to patrol the parking lot, but in shifts with this many teams working together shouldn't be an issue. This is becoming a serious issue, in 2013 we lost a $500 camera out of our pits. We have a nice new (ok a year old) trailer that we'd like to keep nice.

Not sure if trolling...

I don't think many parents would be happy to find out that their child was apart of this hunger-games-esque wolf-pack and was consequently endangered.

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by waialua359

Where specifically is this parking lot?

I'm assuming it's the one north of the Dome indicated here: http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...d-In%20Map.pdf

[Mschmeh144]

Originally Posted by nighterfighter

This seems like a potentially very dangerous idea.

Security and police have their jobs, the students have their job (Enjoy the event, learn, get inspired) and the mentors have theirs (Help the students, make sure the students don't get injured). Assigning students to patrol an area already known to be dangerous? Seems like a not so good idea to me.

First is a game about robots correct? Why not solve the problem with robots.
Maybe you could bring some old bots along and upgrade the battery and allow them to patrol all night. I would find it hilarious to see a potential theif get pelted with frisbees from our 2013 bot.

All humor aside, this is a pretty bad problem.

[rsegrest]

Originally Posted by Ozuru

Not sure if trolling...

*smacks forehead* Early morning thunderstorms and 1/2 our teachers out with no subs has impacted my Potential BS detector...

[Louis_]

Originally Posted by Mschmeh144

First is a game about robots correct? Why not solve the problem with robots.
Maybe you could bring some old bots along and upgrade the battery and allow them to patrol all night. I would find it hilarious to see a potential theif get pelted with frisbees from our 2013 bot.

All humor aside, this is a pretty bad problem.

You could use vision tracking, but I'm sure it'd be very hard in the night.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

I'm assuming it's the one north of the Dome indicated here: http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default...d-In%20Map.pdf

That area looks sketchy to begin with. We never park there.
Sorry to hear about the breakins of FRC teams.
First it was computers being stolen from pits and now this.

[hardcopi]

Nope not trolling. I figured a few mentors and kids driving around the parking lot is not that dangerous.

If it is truly that dangerous then why on earth are we having the event there in the first place?

This place you are saying is dangerous is the same place the kids go all day long. I don't think we should have to monitor it. If First hires a couple security guards to do driving patrols that should be sufficient.

The truth is that having that many kids with that much money in equipment is just asking for trouble. Security should have been everywhere in that place. I saw some, but not nearly enough.

[steverk]

Is there hope that Houston and Detroit are better?

Yes, there is hope. The area where the even will be held in Houston is actually quite nice and well populated, even at night.

That said, I wouldn't suggest crossing US 59 to go in to old Chinatown after dark. Also, like any big city, keep your wits about you and be alert.

[hardcopi]

Detroit gets a lot of bad rep, but honestly it is a HUGE city. Sure there are areas we shouldn't go, but there are nice areas too.

MiCMP was held at an event that looked a little shady driving up to it but was actually quite nice. Would have been a great venue for about 1/2 as many teams. (anyone who attended will understand).

Until we are out of the Edward Jones Dome First needs security in the parking lots. Visible patrolling security.

Another thing teams can do is put up security cameras on their trailers.

[rsegrest]

Originally Posted by hardcopi

Nope not trolling. I figured a few mentors and kids driving around the parking lot is not that dangerous...

...The truth is that having that many kids with that much money in equipment is just asking for trouble. Security should have been everywhere in that place. I saw some, but not nearly enough.

hardcopi;
Just have seen too many issues with law enforcement and teenagers. I am NOT deriding law enforcement just know how it is when tempers are running high or people are overly hyped up on both sides of the equation.

A bunch of teenagers participating a parking lot version of a neighborhood watch in a town where they may never have been before just feels dangerous all over it to me, even with a level-headed mentor in the mix. All it would take is for one of them to post it to social media and the next thing you know you have 10,000 FIRST teenagers mobbing the scene. Let's face it, not all mentors/coaches/chaperones are responsible adults themselves.

I do agree that this many kiddos, that much equipment, etc. all spells for a higher danger factor and something has to give. Expanded security is definitely necessary. Sounds like they may have hired the wrong crew though.

Keep in mind, the shift to St. Louis from Atlanta was what...5 years ago...or was it 6? A lot changes happen in a city over that amount of time. St. Louis was probably a slightly different place back then.

[sanddrag]

In and right around the dome and America's center and the Renaissance Grand, I felt like there was a good police presence during the event hours when students were out and about. After hours, not so much. And in other parts of the city like near the arch, or even just a couple blocks from the dome, there were definitely some very sketchy characters hanging around, and a much smaller police presence.

[OAXACA]

On thursday night, Opening ceremonies ended late. My stepfather and I took the metro back to our hotel (which was by the airport). So by the time Opening ceremonies ended, it was already getting dark. It was kind of scary riding the metro after dark in St.Louis. I had a bag on me that was pretty full (For we had went to the Innovation Faire earlier in the day). We got some hard stares and a few glances at the bag. But my stepdad moved me next to the window and he held the bag on his lapAlso, walking on the streets at night wasn't so pleasant either. But luckily everyone is alright and no one got hurt. I am truly sorry about your car and other peoples cars, but I am very happy no one was injured.

[chapman1]

If you go to a big city, you are at a greater risk of theft. Period. It's no fault of St. Louis or FIRST, because "nice" neighborhoods don't cotton to football arenas.

Please, y'all keep this in mind when the venues change to other cities like Detroit, which is a perfectly fine city. Just sayin'.

[Wayne Doenges]

Not to shanghai this thread, but this is why I loved Disney. It was a safe and friendly environment. No one was mugged. No vehicles were burgled. Kids could walk places without feeling dread.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread