Sneak Out of Your House at Night

Sneaking is a fun, interesting, and incredibly useful skill. Some would say it's usefulness is on par with (or even greater than) learning parkour. Whether you're sneaking out to go to that party, to check out the stars, or just for the fun of it, there is a definitively correct and incorrect way to do it. And of course, sneaking generally implies that you do not want to get caught. Therefore, today's topic will be how to sneak out at night, and not get caught.

Steps

Planning ahead

  1. Try to have a plan on where you're going and able to meet someone or be with someone while you are sneaking out. (A girlfriend/boyfriend or group of friends is common, but don't make the group too big or you will be noticed.)
  2. Plan how you're going to get out and where you are going to go and how long you will take (do this during the day when no one is watching). Do not write this down on paper, as it can be evidence to your parents. Mentally, try to plan out;
    • Fencing, terrain, lighting and hiding spots where you will be going
    • Blind spots from the windows of nearby houses
    • Floor creaks or squeaky doors and windows
    • Naturally occurring things, such as weather and moon phase
    • Time you are departing
    • Method of exit from home - must be quiet,
    • Consider nearby barking dogs and avoid them and any other animals
    • Path taken to destination
    • Path taken back home
    • Method of entry in home
    • Stay away from the main streets
    • Estimate of how long all this will take
    • Excuses, backup plans, things you'll need, etc.
  3. Prepare physically and mentally for your big night. Eat 2 hours before and drink one hour before. 15 minutes before departing, get dressed up, but no earlier or you will risk being discovered by your parents. Also, at about 15 minutes, have an energy gel - they are like goo and contain caffeine usually and complex sugars. Pack all the stuff you'll need, but make sure you don't get weighed down too much by it. Remember you're only sneaking out don't over think it.
    • Stretch before sneaking. In the dead of night, your joints creaking and popping can be much louder than you may anticipate. Stretching before you go out is a great way to ensure being able to move smoothly without cracking all of your joints.
  4. If your parents wake up, have a good excuse ready. The classic "glass of water" excuse seems to work fairly well. If you were caught coming back inside, you may want to say you were merely admiring the stars. It's always good to have multiple excuses for any and every possible situation. Another thing to remember is to think of your excuses before you start sneaking. If you already have the conversation planned out, they're less likely to discover your lie.
    • Know how your parents wake up. Some people take a while to wake up, while others are instantly alert the moment their eyes open. Sometimes you can abandon your sneaking, and quickly run upstairs to your room, before their sleepy mind can process what they just heard. If your parents have the ears of secret agents, you're probably best to try and sneak back to your room, but walk normally once they come within eyesight of you. Remember to think of a good excuse.

Dressing for the night

  1. Try to dress in an appropriate color;
    • Black: Rarely found in nature, actually a poor choice. Only good for asphalt and parking lots.
    • Slate gray: Good for concrete and other urban settings.
    • Navy blue/midnight blue: Matches the general color of the night, allowing versatility in most settings.
    • Olive drab/military green/: Good for both dense and thin green foliage, in suburban settings you will probably find yourself hiding in bushes and grass hills often, this would be a decent choice.
    • Khaki: Good for dead foliage and desert settings.
    • White: Good for snow, a white outfit with a few digital black and grey specks works best.
    • Brown: Good for crawling through big areas with only dirt and no plants.

Sneaking out

  1. Make a clean exit out of your house. Everyone's house is different, so you will have to try to figure out a few things for yourself. Be sure to walk quietly and avoid squeaky spots in the floor. Make sure to go out the farthest window or door from your parents. Try not to run into any furniture, as this could both hurt and make noise. Bring with you anything you might need, depending on where you are going. For example, money, flashlight, pocket knife, etc.
    • Leave a screwdriver or butter knife in your window or the door to hold it a crack open so you don't get locked out. Bring a front door key just in case. If you sleep on a second floor, consider getting a roll down fire escape ladder. Put some stuffed animals under your covers to make it look like it's your body. Leave your door as it normally is to avoid suspicion from your parents - and do not lock it! In case they do figure out that you are missing, leave a note saying you are fine that you have cash for a pay phone and not to call the police.
  2. Be quiet when walking through the house. Here are some things to do:
    • When walking down stairs (particularly creaky stairs) try to stick close to the walls. This is where the boards are most reinforced. It is also a good idea to check the stairs during the day to try and memorize which steps are creaky.
    • If you have to, press against the walls with your hands to put as much weight on your arms. This will take some of the weight off of your feet, and minimize creaking.
    • Turn doorknobs very slowly. Also, know what your door is going to do when you open it. Some squeaky doors can be opened quietly by quickly opening it before it has a chance to squeak, while others require you to open it very slowly. Know your environment.
  3. Keep a watch with you. Make sure you notice what time it is, and how long it takes you to get to and from the desired place. Be sure to be back at least an hour before your parents usually get up.
  4. Step outside quietly and breathe in the cold, moist night air. Take a moment to appreciate the crickets and far away traffic and airplanes, look at the moon with the thin clouds floating by and the stars. This helps create the right attitude and teaches you to be silent as a ninja and become part within nature. If you are really nervous, stay in the garden and just appreciate the night. This will help you be at ease, so you feel more confident when you go out.
  5. Start sneaking around. Now that you have gotten out of front lawn, it's time to rock and roll. Stay low, stay quiet, and stay alert. Watch your back and walk quietly.

Going back home

  1. Sneak back in the house the way you came out. Remember—it's actually easier to get caught sneaking back in than it is to be caught sneaking out. Don't get cocky and think that you have already succeeded. Be very quiet, the best thing to do now is to get undressed and mess up your hair and stop by the kitchen for a cup of water so you have an excuse if your parents hear you coming upstairs, And be sure to lock the door that you came in so your parents don't notice something is up.
  2. Keep caffeine or some other form of artificial energy in your room. Your parents will be suspicious if you sleep in until past noon (unless that is your normal sleeping habit) or if you are obviously extremely tired the next day. Drink an energy drink or some caffeinated soda so you are not too tired.

Tips

  • Carry extra money with you just in case you need to call home in an emergency or in case you need something to eat.
  • If you have a pet, and you know you will wake up later in the morning, say that they kept you up all night.
  • You can tell if a car is coming even before you see it. Listen for the sound or if it's around a bend, you might see the headlights light up the street or even the fog in the air.
  • If you have to hide for any reason remember that people don't look up or down most times.
  • People can spot you because of shape, silhouette, shadow and color. Eliminate all of those by dressing accordingly, sticking to dense shadows and moving slowly.
  • The human 2D theory states we humans are 2D creatures, and we look for each other on the level we dwell on (ground level). So, if someone is looking for you, hide either on a roof top or ditch, as they are at different levels. But don't hide in trees. If you are sighted there, you will have nowhere to go and a long fall if you are considering jumping. You can also throw a rock or something to create a distraction (don't crack your wrist or elbow, they'll hear this first and look over).
    • If you hide on a rooftop, do not go to a house that has lights on, stay low, and make sure you have more than one escape route. Some rooftops are more steep and slanted than others. Don't approach a skylight, or get in the path of the moonlight towards a skylight.
    • If you hide in a ditch or hole, stay in there until you think your pursuer is gone. Do not keep peeking out. If you are in a greatly populated area, you might need some cover, like leaves or something that is the color of the ground around you.But you will have to risk someone falling in.
  • If your parents come to check on you because you have gone out before, lay pillows, stuffed animals, or other blankets to form your shape in your bed. In case they look in closer, add the top of a dolls hair that is the color of your hair.
  • Stay out of light or as much as possible.
  • Rely more on your brain and techniques than your gear.
  • This can be a year-round hobby as long as you dress accordingly. Keep in mind that with all the running around, you probably will be sweating and dry-mouthed within the first 10 minutes. But, uncovered arms can be easy to see. If you rest for more than 5 minutes, you might end up getting cold again.
  • In suburban areas, you may find yourself hiding behind a car or bush, checking if the coast is clear, and sprinting to the next cover, and repeating the process. So always stay alert.
  • If you are a teen and your room is in your basement, use the farthest window from where your parents are upstairs! If you are upstairs, the windows take too long to open and close and cause a lot of noise. But if you have to use windows, quietly lower a crate or a stool for a high ledge. If you have a wooden wall, or a smooth brick wall, get a partner you can trust to help you get in and out.
  • If you think someone sighted you but are not sure, get into a crawling or squatting position and freeze! You want to use the darkness to hide you. You will also be harder to see if you are still.
  • Carry a change of clothes, preferably casual and lighter colored (khakis and a polo shirt may work). If you work (or worked) at a company that is open late and has a uniform shirt (such as a retail chain), then bring that (although your story may be checked with the company). Also, bring a construction hat and reflective vest to look like a worker - if you look old enough. Just try to look like you belong wherever you are.
  • It helps to be physically fit, your endurance and flexibility probably being more important than your strength. It is always better to run than to stand and fight.
  • Use fabric softener on your clothes in the laundry to make them quieter.
  • White noise like a fan is helpful
  • Record your own snoring to a cellphone/or a digital recorder, so your parents think you are asleep.
  • Don't touch anything unnecessarily and just act as if it was the day and you're going out for a walk and doors are a better to use than windows. This is because when windows are open its easier to tell than an unlocked door so go for doors not windows (unless it's a pull up window).
  • Try just asking your parents if you can go out with friends on a non school night . They may say yes depending on your age.
  • Consider wearing civilian clothes to be able to play it casual if you have to. A Forest Green or Navy Blue plain sweatshirt, dark ball cap, and Dickies Navy Blue dress pants or green dress pants work great. Black jeans might sound like a great idea, but they do not blend in with the natural color of the night and will make you look like a robber (even though you are not) to most people because of a stereotype caused by movies.
  • If you have a sibling and/or best friend who you trust, ask them to sleep in your bed that night, and to call you if your parents find out you are missing.
  • Just in case you have street lights, stay away from light and wear dark clothes.
  • Wait for a night when your parents aren't feeling well or they go to sleep early after a "rough day". It usually lessens the chance of them waking up and catching you.
  • Get all the things you'll need and put them in a good backpack hide them in your cupboard. You don't want to wake up your parents by opening drawers!

Warnings

  • Remember, to not leave any evidence behind. It's easier to sneak out when you have a window that goes straight up.
  • Do not get near or try to talk to people who look dangerous. Stay alert so no one can sneak up behind you!
  • Don't use camouflage, unless it's a shirt or sweatshirt people would regularly wear, if you do and you're caught it will be obvious you were trying to sneak around... eliminating almost all alibis while decreasing but not eliminating the risk of getting caught in the first place.
  • Be extra cautious when you are traveling down busy streets. Stay as far away from the road as possible, be able to hide or fall flat in a moments notice at the sound of a car or footsteps. Make sure you are not in a spot where the headlights will hit you.
  • Don't travel to unfamiliar streets, you will not be aware of hiding spots and the layout; you are much more likely to get sighted. But, if people see you by your house, they might know it's you.
  • Do not carry a weapon (anything illegal) if you get caught you will be in much more trouble, and if you live in such a dangerous area that you need a weapon, don't sneak out.
  • If you eat too much sugar, it may perk you up for a couple of hours but then you'll have a giant sugar crash, and that's not good.
  • Make sure to turn off any kind of sensor light before hand (note: switch back on before going back to bed to avoid suspicion in the morning) If you forget just say I didn't have anything to do with it.
  • Avoid bright or fluorescent colored clothing or gear.
  • If you live in an apartment, people exiting during the night is common, and all you need to do is figure out the quickest escape route.
  • Cops assume the worst of any action you do and will use force and weapons if you give them any reason to do so. If you're caught, don't move, freeze, put your hands up and say 'I did not mean any harm, officer.' Most criminals won't go down without a fight, so doing so will only benefit you.
  • Don't seem antsy or anxious when you are around your parents, It will make them suspicious and they are likely to come check up on you later at night to see if you are still at home.
  • Don't run from the cops if they see you.
  • Try not to make noise... people will call the cops. A little bit of rustling in the bushes could be an animal or the wind, but if there's a lot of it, people may get suspicious and look out their windows. But remember, people don't normally call the police if they hear someone passing their house.
  • If the cops come, stop and explain the truth to them, or you can take a big risk if you are past curfew and your parents can't know most criminals don't climb a tree so it would be an option but use this only as a last resort "ONLY IF NEEDED SERIOUSLY". They were probably called by a suspicious citizen, and assuming you don't have a curfew, you technically did not do any crime, you were just hiding. You are just a thrill-seeker. Or, you can act like you were just walking on the street (see tips). But, if they know you were sneaking, you will always be in less, if any, trouble if you don't lie.
  • Use your flashlight sparingly, the light could give you away or at best ruin your night vision and waste batteries.
  • Do not bring along an iPod or MP3 player. If you can hear the music, then it is making your alertness to other sounds worse. And if you can't hear it or are concentrating too much to notice it, what's the point?
  • Don't talk to your parents about sneaking around or ask for gear; they will get suspicious. If you play paintball/airsoft you might get away with this as an excuse for the gear.
  • Do not go out past the curfew time if you are not of age. So, if the curfew starts at 11 PM, and you were spotted at 10:50 PM, you have not done any crime! You can also go right after it ends, but be careful! It is not a night operation if the sun is up!
  • Do not do any breaking and entering or graffiti, you can still have fun without stealing or damaging property.
  • If you are sighted by civilians and you know that they saw you for sure, you have a few options;
    • Outrun a Pursuer! BUT ONLY DO THIS IF THEY Live Incognito. You just need to outrun them until they give up. Stay off roads or cut through streets so they can't chase you by car. NEVER immediately run home, the people will follow you and you will be completely screwed.
    • Use an alibi, such "my dog ran away around here earlier today, and I couldn't sleep so I turned it into a game where I try to sneak up on him or hide from people". Be sure to already have planned out what to answer to questions they may ask (like the name of the dog, time it happened) if they are trying to tell if you are lying or curious or concerned. If it is a young male adult or teenager, you might be able to just explain them the truth and hope they understand and don't call the police. When you leave, watch them to see if they pull out a phone.

Things You'll Need

The Basics

  • It is not usually against the law to be out at night. Only the most paranoid and/or worrisome neighbors will actually care if someone is walking down a street at 2am.
  • Cell phone (to check time and for emergencies).
  • Small flashlight - a Upgrade Your Maglite works great
  • House key
  • Shoes - Boots for ankle support and climbing, shoes for speed and stealth
  • Socks - if your floor is not carpeted, your feet will most likely stick to the floor, and make noise when you lift your feet
  • First aid equipment (in case of an accident), in an Altoids tin filled with band-aids, tweezers and alcohol wipes for treating minor wounds. Pack in toilet paper with it to silence it.
  • Extra money
  • Don't carry too much materials that may get you caught.
  • If you do get caught, don't act suspicious, calmly answer the questions.

For Serious People

  • Headcover - A balaclava (ski mask) covers up the most of your face, but looks suspicious and can get hot. A beanie is the best choice, followed by a baseball cap or boonie hat. No sunglasses, they make your night vision worse and are reflective. Alternatively, you can Camouflage Your Face.
  • Monocular w/ belt pouch
  • Belt
  • Belt pouch for flashlight
  • Compass - If you plan on going into the woods, it's easy to get turned around.
  • Medical tin (fill an Altoids tin with band-aids, tweezers and alcohol wipes for treating minor wounds. Pack in toilet paper with it to silence it.)
  • Spare flashlight batteries - optional
  • Food - for long operations.
  • 1 quart canteen - if you know water fountains won't be available. Always keep it completely full or empty to prevent it from making noise.
  • Rope - to use as a lasso or tie it for climbing.
  • Extra set of clothes- make sure to put pajamas in your back pack just in case if you need to look like you woke up from sleep

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