by Crimethinc. Workers' Collective
Available in 284 free installments
Owner:
If you have a canvas or paper overlay as described in (F) above, you can either fie the four corners and middle (top and bottom) very securely, or, if you can reach the face of the board by ladder or rope, attach the panel by screwing the i" x 4" boards to the billboard. A good battery-powered drill is needed for this. We recommend hex-head "Tek" sheet metal screws, #8 or #10 size. Use a hex-head driver bit for your drill. These screws work well on either wood backboards or sheet metal.
Billboard Improvement
Once you've completed your preparations and are ready for the actual hit, there are many things that can be done to minimize the risk of apprehension and/or injury:
A) Personnel. Have the smallest number of people possible on the board. Three is about optimum?two for the actual work and one for lookout and communications. Depending on your location, you may require additional spottuig personnel on the
ground-?see below.
B) Communications. For work on larger boards where you're exposed for longer periods of time, we recommend compact CB units or FM-band walkie-talkies. Low cost CB walkie-talkies are available from Radio Shack and elsewhere, and can be fitted with headsets and microphones for ease of use.
Have one or two cars positioned at crucial intersections within sight of the board. The ground crew should monitor oncoming traffic and maintain radio contact with the lookout on the board. Do not use the popular CB or FM channels; there are many other frequencies to choose from. A verbal code is a good idea since the channels you will be using will not be secure.
It's crucial that the members of the ground crew don't lounge around their vehicle (s) or in any other way make it obvious that they're hanging around in a most likely desolate area late at night for no apparent reason. A passing policeman on patrol will notice them much sooner than he will the operatives on the board. Keep a low profile. We've found that lookouts dressed as winos or homeless couples are virtually invisible additions to the urban landscape. Park all vehicles out of sight of the operation.
C) Safety. The risk of apprehension on a board pales in comparison to the risk of falling, and safety concerns should always prevail over security. Remember, the wind can
be powerful up on a tall billboard. If you're not an experienced climber, you're better off helping out on the ground as a security lookout, graphic designer, or publicist. Even if
Executing the Hit
Billboard Improvement
you are an experienced climber, we don't recommend solo actions on any board larger than 8 panels (6' x 12'). Ideally, all field actions should incorporate the buddy system, but particularly those that require any sort of rigging. If you're going to lean over the top of the board to affix any overlays, you should have a secured partner belaying you. It's a long way down, so be carefiil up there.
D) Cleanup. Billboard structures are urban garbage as it is; don't make matters worse by leaving your empty glue tubes, discarded vinyl backing, cigarette butts, and empties on the property. The responsible billboard liberator leaves nothing behind, not even fingerprints.
E) Escape. If you've done your homework, you'U know the terrain surrounding the board quite well. In the event of detection, prepare a number of alternate routes out of the area, and a rendezvous point with the ground support crew. If a patrol is approaching and you are in a difficult spot for quickly ditching and hiding?say, you're hanging on a rope in the middle of the board?it may be better simply to stay still until they pass. Movement is more likely to catch the eye.
Once on the ground, if pursuit is imminent, hiding may be your safest bet. If you've covered the terrain carefully, you'll be aware of any good hiding spots. Stashing clothing in advance at your hiding spot might be vidse?a business suit, perhaps, or rumpled leisurewear. Keep in mind that if the poHce do a thorough search (doubtful, but not impossible), they vrill use high-powered spotlights from cars, as well as flashlights if they're on foot. See Evasion {pg. 234) for more hints on how to outwit and outrun them.
Publicizing Your Action
Billboard tmproi>emer)t 124
like the advertisements they improve, your actions should aim for the greatest possible reach. Try to time your improvement so it stays up for as long as possible and is seen by a vidde audience. Actions executed at the beginning of a holiday weekend tend to stay up
