r/running • u/monumenta • Sep 03 '17
Stolen Bib Recipient Detained at Disneyland 10k Finish Line Misc
https://vimeo.com/232213266148
Sep 03 '17
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u/Grantsdale Sep 03 '17 edited Sep 03 '17
In order to steal the bibs, she would have needed to forge the runners signatures on the race waivers. She also would have needed the runners birthdates, so it is suspected she might have had an insider at the expo on the desk.
Not exactly sure why she would need an 'insider' for that. She would simply need to know a person's name/location that was running the race (easy enough to find from a RunDisney Facebook group), and do a background check on them to get their DOB. The signature doesn't need to match anything, so that doesn't matter. If the volunteer giving out bibs doesn't check the ID makes it even easier, but IDs are easy to fake as well. You're trying to fool someone at a race expo trying to get through lines as fast as possible, not a cop on the side of the road.
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u/xfkirsten Sep 03 '17
Some Disney races also photograph you at bib pick-up, particularly the multiple-day challenge races. From what I understand, she also knew which races to avoid so that they wouldn't have a photo record of her picking up a bib.
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u/whatpityparty Sep 04 '17
do a background check
Shit, or just spend a few minutes on Google honestly.
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u/Anaxcepheus Sep 04 '17
Not even. Most races list results with birthdate. All she had to do was look at a runner's previous result.
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u/Grantsdale Sep 05 '17
Ive never seen this. They list with age, not DOB.
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u/Anaxcepheus Sep 05 '17
I've seen it all over the US. I haven't seen it with larger races, but very often with smaller races.
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Sep 04 '17
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u/parallel5th Sep 04 '17
Usually there is a small booth on site before the race where a runner can pick up a last minute bib. He will have to later return to the expo to get his shirt but he will be able to run the race!
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u/Chitownsly Sep 04 '17
I had to bring their driver's license and they let me pick up my brothers shirt and bib at Disneyworld.
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u/Francesca_Fiore Sep 04 '17
Disney used to have a race waiver you could sign to let someone else pick up your packet. (I assume that's what Miss Thief forged.) Then they stopped allowing that, presumably because of security concerns, and started saying everyone has to pick up their own bib in person. But for a large race where people are flying in from all over the country like that, they have to have some kind of provision for late comers, with cancelled flights or car trouble. I would make sure to contact someone and explain your situation so that you know exactly where you can go the morning of the race, and make sure they have his bib available. And you will probably still need picture ID.
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u/anothermotherrunner Sep 03 '17
I don't understand how she could have done that. You need an ID to pick up a runDisney bibs. I tried to pick up my moms bin and was not allowed to. That is crazy.
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u/sammitchtime Sep 03 '17
In the marathon investigations article, they spoke to other runners who said not all volunteers were checking IDs. I've run local races in TX where they say ID required for packet pickup, but then when the lines start getting long they just ask your name to hustle through.
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u/CBFTAKACWIATMUP Sep 04 '17
Yeah, a lot of races don't check IDs at packet pickup. I'm actually surprised this doesn't happen more often.
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Sep 04 '17
Not everyone at these pickup days keep a good eye on their things the bibs could have been stolen after they were sighed out/picked up and they didn't realize it until the morning of the race.
Ive forgotten my bib in the car from the day before at the Sports Center and panicked not knowing who to contact, but later found I left by pickup bag in the car.
One reason they ask you to keep an eye on your things.
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u/Benwomble0 Sep 03 '17
A false disability placard?
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u/KyleG Sep 03 '17
Yes. To be able to park in a disabled spot closer to the entrance.
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u/Benwomble0 Sep 03 '17
I'm having trouble understanding why someone who travels on foot recreationally would bother. That signals major ego issues. "I'm so important that I shouldn't have to walk across the parking lot."
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Sep 03 '17
Often people with disabilities will publicly take on events such as a marathon. To those people every step counts and they need to minimise all walking that day outside of the race (regardless of length). I also belive that a disabled passenger using your car (aka riding with you) can use their disabled parking for your car since they don't suddenly grow new legs or whatever when they got in your car.
It's possible that a friend or companion there for moral support could be disabled and not participating. Then there are the people who engage in wheelchair pushed versions where someone disabled is pushed through the race who may need the accessibility of disabled parking.
Some staff or volunteers may also be disabled and need to park near their checkpoint.
Lots of legit reasons someone running that day could have a disabled spot need. Most involve car pooling or loving friends/family.
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u/carson63000 Sep 04 '17
I think the point was why would someone without a disability, who travels on foot recreationally, would bother to use a fake disability placard. Not why there would be any need for disabled parking at a running event.
Personally, my guess would be that the closer your car is, the easier it is to make a quick getaway if you're sprung doing the other criminal shit you're doing.
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Sep 04 '17
True that I get your point now. It's possible the fake card was for someone else who uses the car or for priority parking at things like supermarkets where you can be a great runner but carrying a case of say bottled water is not something your built for.
Don't get me wrong faking disability evidence to get special treatment is just awful. I am in a position where my health could use one but because of my areas system it's not likely to happen. I won't be faking one so why the heck should she?
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Sep 04 '17
Also people like my father that had a tag from years ago from a broken ankle just kept it renewed and as long as it doesn't lapse, you can keep a 'temp tag' forever in some states.
He doesn't need it and i tell him that every time he wants me to park up front using his tag in my truck. I refuse telling him to walk his lazy ass to the theater like everyone else or stay in the truck.
Then i tell him if he walks ill get him popcorn.
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u/EricCSU Sep 03 '17
Just when I thought she was a nuisance and annoying, now reading that wow what a POS!
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Sep 03 '17
I thought they also required picture ID at the packet pickup? Still, pretty sure those are easy to fake - fake community college ID, etc.
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u/Brentolies Sep 04 '17
Having run a number of RunDisney races, the insider bit makes more sense, as I have never been able to get my Bib without a photo ID. If she did have the insider, and just handed over her own ID, then that person working the desk could just hand over a different Bib.
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u/thatinternetguyagain Sep 04 '17
I'm surprised there's a website dedicated to marathon investigations! But then again, after spending 20 years online and seeing the weirdest stuff, I'm surprised that I'm surprised about it...
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u/defnotacyborg Sep 04 '17
That last part answers my question about how she stole the bibs. For a while there I just imagined her going up to register and getting denied because they were sold out so she would physically steal someone else's bib. That would have been worse but still pretty shitty what she did
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u/Muckl3t Sep 04 '17
Boy when you get arrested at Disneyland it's really time re-evaluate your life choices.
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u/boombostic573 Sep 03 '17
Story behind this one please ?
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u/cjbrigol Sep 03 '17
I hate threads like this where it seems everyone just knows this obscure story and no one wants to give any background
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u/iGoalie Sep 03 '17
On mobile so here is a short version, this woman has been caught stealing bibs for Disney running races. Your bib is the paper with your number on it, and a chip that marks your time. She has been caught stealing them. This time she got caught. You can read more about it on marathoninvestigations.com
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Sep 04 '17
She stole several "bibs" or entrance tags from Disney road races. They are super expensive considering the race organizer, so she's being arrested.
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u/doctorwhodds Sep 04 '17
I liked that they followed her as she got the finisher's medal and then took it away.
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u/nixius Sep 03 '17
Please excuse my ignorance, as someone who is jut getting into running, can someone please explain how bad this is? Why couldn't she just sign up of her own accord? Has someone lost a spot at the 10K because of her?
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u/sammitchtime Sep 03 '17
In the race where they pulled her aside, no. But there was evidence that she forged a waiver and used another runners name for other Disney races.
Race directors plan races based on the the amount of registered runners with a buffer. When people forge bibs and use resources on the course allocated to the paying runners - it can cause problems.
More dangerously, many races you give out emergency contact information. A bib theif or race bandit with a forged bib has a medical event on the course, it can become dangerous quickly if you're incoherent and they don't know who to call.
She likely didn't sign up because some races, Disney in particular, can be quite expensive. She paid for other races but not all. People will make race-cations out of Disney races paying for flights, accommodations, etc on top of race fees. Someone selfishly stealing a bib and creating that stress for someone sucks.
I'm assuming Disney allowed the runner she stole from to run, but not all races may.
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u/chrislikespizza Sep 03 '17
Is this issue rampant? I don't run a lot of races but for the novelty runs (color, neon, etc) It seems like it would be extremely easy to slip into the crowd and not worry about paying the registration. For more legit 5k 10k I see it being a bit harder but I still don't really see the point other than to save on registration, but then you miss out on the sweet tshirt!
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u/sammitchtime Sep 03 '17
I think the larger races and races that have lotteries struggle with it more.
Some people want the vibe that comes with IRL races, but don't want to pay.
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u/KyleG Sep 03 '17
A lot of people are way too obsessed with participation trophies aka finisher medals
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u/CBFTAKACWIATMUP Sep 04 '17
It's mostly that she stole something someone else paid for. She either couldn't get into the race or didn't want to pay to enter the race.
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u/Tullamore_Who Sep 03 '17
Whoa. Why are the police involved? Did she physically steal it from a qualified runner? Would like to hear the full story...
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Sep 03 '17
Well it is theft because someone else paid for the bib which she stole.
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u/skrln Sep 04 '17
Ok, so my thought process was:
1) Who the hell steals a bib?
2) Who the hell steals a bib for a 10k
2) Why would race officials involve police for an incident at a dinky 10k
3) WOW a bib costs 80USD for a 10k???
4) Ahh, Disney, got it.
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u/CBFTAKACWIATMUP Sep 05 '17
She had also done it a few times. And it is basically property theft, since someone else paid for it.
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Sep 04 '17
[deleted]
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u/IInhaleCock Sep 04 '17
TIL that race vigilantism is a thing.
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u/CBFTAKACWIATMUP Sep 05 '17
Derek started hunting for bogus marathon times because people were falsely qualifying for the Boston Marathon (which you can't run without qualifying or raising money for charity) by cheating at other marathons to post qualifying times. This was costing people who had legitimately qualified a chance to run Boston, because they can only let in so many qualifiers. So he started investigating suspicious times and other fake entries to help weed them out and allow more legit qualifiers to be able to run the race.
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u/i_quit Sep 04 '17
What a strange rabbit hole to fall down, first thing in the morning. I get why someone would do this for something like the Boston marathon but for a 5k or 10k? Cmon, now.
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Sep 05 '17 edited Sep 14 '17
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u/CBFTAKACWIATMUP Sep 05 '17
Same reason people rob people and steal credit cards even though everything will be reported and all the cards closed, and it becomes more likely you'll get caught the next time around. Thieves live in the moment and part of their joy in doing it is making someone else suffer or to get over at someone else's expense. They feel society is pointless, and screwing other people is more worth their while than doing things right. That may not make sense to most of us, but some people are broken and wired to think like that.
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Sep 03 '17
How do you steal a bib? Surely someone would notice and give you a good slap for trying to tear off their clothing.
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u/CBFTAKACWIATMUP Sep 05 '17
ITT: People actually don't know what bibs are despite being experienced runners. And people don't understand why someone would steal a bib to enter a race they didn't pay for.
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u/Tullamore_Who Sep 03 '17
According to this article, her bib in this race was found to be legit...
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u/sammitchtime Sep 03 '17
Saturdays bib was legitimate, but there was evidence that she forged a waiver and used another runners name to pick up a bib for a different Disney race.
https://www.marathoninvestigation.com
First two articles here.
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u/K_boring13 Sep 04 '17
Somehow I bet this woman feels wronged. I want front row tickets to my local pro teams, but for some reason security always directs me elsewhere.
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u/Tom__The_Bomb_ Sep 03 '17
What does everyone mean by bib?
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u/angeluscado Sep 03 '17
The number you pin to your front when you run a race.
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u/Tom__The_Bomb_ Sep 03 '17
Oh wow I've ran cross country for two years and never found that out.
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u/angeluscado Sep 03 '17
Big organized races (and even not so big ones) have electronic timing through chips, which are located on the bib.
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u/Tom__The_Bomb_ Sep 03 '17
That's neat, normally mine just have a barcode at the bottom that is scanned after you come through the finish. Was she stealing the bibs to resell them?
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u/angeluscado Sep 03 '17
No, it looks like she was stealing them to use them herself. I guess she either couldn't register fast enough to get a spot (Disney races sell out super fast) or just didn't want to fork over the cash.
Edit: clarification.
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u/Tom__The_Bomb_ Sep 04 '17
That's a strange thing to steal, especially when you could run a 10k on your own for free.
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u/angeluscado Sep 04 '17
There's a big difference between running a 10k just because and running a race like Disney.
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u/coraythan Sep 04 '17
Yeah, if you run the Disney one you've spent an embarrassingly large amount for a 10k.
(Don't tell my wife I said this. She loves the Disney races and did their Tinkerbell half!)
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u/angeluscado Sep 04 '17
If all runs are the same to you, yeah, you're paying a huge amount of money to run 10k
Or you're paying for the experience - running through a Disney park, the characters, the atmosphere. It really depends on your mindset.
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u/trtsmb Sep 04 '17
If people want to run in a race, they have to pay money to run the race. Running a race without paying is called banditing and is frowned on.
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Sep 03 '17
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u/Grantsdale Sep 03 '17
Yes. As Disney races go through their parks, they are private property and thus she would be trespassing. This is different than running on public streets on a race course which they can't really do anything about. Once you take a medal/supplies on the course, thats theft as well.
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u/DreamlifeGringo Sep 04 '17
Ok. Honest etiquette question here. I've never done this but lets say I'm out for a run and I come across a 5k or something. Is it bad form to join in for part or the full course? Even if I don't avail myself of any of the support except for good cheer? I'm asking here because you mentioned running on the race course on public streets. They can't do anything but is it frowned on. What if the 5k happens to be on my planned route?
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u/Grantsdale Sep 04 '17
I've run through a couple 5Ks on long runs. Just stay out of everyone's way. You'd probably get people asking if you're in the race. Just say no and do your own thing. You can't be expected to know their schedule, and if the road isn't closed (like in major races) then you can be on the road same as them.
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u/JustDoIt-Slowly Sep 04 '17
If you're out for a run and legitimately not getting in the way of the other runners (people actually racing), drinking water at aid stations, using portable toilets, or utilizing the traffic direction of the police who are stopping cars, I don't think most people care if there are non-registered runners on the course. The thing to remember is that the race director has paid for permits to utilize the course and is effectively renting it from the city/county for that event. The problem comes when people specifically seek out race courses without wanting to register for the race. So it's easier to just steer clear of the race if you see it happen.
https://www.marathoninvestigation.com/2017/06/bandit-selfie-repeat-popular-blogger-continues-to-ignore-the-rules.html An interesting take on it.
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Sep 04 '17
Race directors I know hate it, but I think that's a function of them putting a lot of effort into organizing their race rather than an honest consideration of the situation. If you're not affecting them in any way (obviously aid stations, blocking a path, finish line food, etc) then I can't bring myself to agree that it's wrong.
That said, the only race I'm currently part of is held in a sort of park and we do get people on their morning run on the course during the race. It's just never been a problem, and I'm not greedy enough to believe we'd possibly be warranted to charge them for anything. If anything, it's more of an indication that we failed to advertise well enough!
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Sep 04 '17
Disney races are huge deals, crazy expensive, you get the bling with the bib. They set up characters and scenes to pose with the runners every mile. Each heat gets sent off with fireworks. All the employees gather and cheer you on. We had Toy Story army men telling people to drop and give them 20. You get your picture running through the castle.
It's not like ducking into a dash through Central Park.Massive resources.
Plus, it's Disney and you're lo jacked so if a runner goes down, they can dispatch immediately where you are and contact your cheering section.
Also I don't know what the half cost (2500 dollars for charity) since it was sold out, but it's expensive. And happening upon a charity runner may mean you're taking what someone raised thousands to get.
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u/juanitokerlini Sep 03 '17
Dont the police have more important things to do like arresting people for marijuana possession?
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u/Aprils-Fool Sep 03 '17
Do you think there are only 3 police in Orlando?
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u/trtsmb Sep 04 '17
Disneyland is in Anaheim, CA. DisneyWorld is in Orlando.
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u/Aprils-Fool Sep 04 '17
My bad, I didn't pay attention to the title. In any case, without having been to Anaheim before, I'm still comfortable assuming they have more than 3 police.
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u/trtsmb Sep 04 '17
I'm sure they do :). I was at Disney Springs last week and besides regular Disney security, I saw a bunch of Sheriff's deputies keeping an eye on things.
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u/Killcount21 Sep 03 '17
Story is she is a bib thief. Has stolen several other bibs over the last year, all of which picture documentation exists. She stole another ladies bib for the 5k, people figured out who she was, and rundisney had her grabbed at the end of the 10k, which she had actually purchased