3 ms·

Personally, if I could legally, morally and practically, I'd probably use chemical deterrents like cadaverine or butter acid (though the later is possibly dange

by zaarn 8y ago

Personally, if I could legally, morally and practically, I'd probably use chemical deterrents like cadaverine or butter acid (though the later is possibly dangerous). Dump 100mg of cadaverine in the thiefs car and they'll never use that car again. And possibly the clothes they wore at the time. Or other chemicals. It would be most exciting to find chemicals that yield strongest short-term effects without any damaging long term effects.

dunham 8y ago
Having once had a package thief open/dump packages in my back yard, next to the house, I would prefer you don't do that. The packages were some rolls of vinyl, a box of sealed granola snacks, and some inexpensive jewelry, all rejected by the thief. If the person was homeless, I'm surprised they ditched the food, it was nutritious and shelf-stable. (I redelivered the packages.)
- zaarn 8y ago
  Some part of me is prepared to pay that price.
PyroLagus 8y ago
If you want to be really evil, you use Thioacetone: https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2009/06/11/things_i_wont_work_with_thioacetone https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2009/06/11/th... As far as I'm aware, it's the worst smelling chemical known to humans and has no damaging long term effects. You just have to be veeery careful about it unless you want to stink up the whole town by accident.
- justwalt 8y ago
  This reads like an urban legend. I’ll have to shake the rust off my OChem lab experience and try some synthesis. Kidding of course, but I it makes wonder how easy this would be for an amateur to synthesize. The consequences being making an entire town nauseous makes this whole thing pretty enigmatic.
- zaarn 8y ago
  I think if this was sprayed into the insides of your car, you'd probably never use the car again and/or never steal packages again either. The trauma resulting from the smell might just be enough.

by zaarn 8y ago

dunham 8y ago

Having once had a package thief open/dump packages in my back yard, next to the house, I would prefer you don't do that. The packages were some rolls of vinyl, a box of sealed granola snacks, and some inexpensive jewelry, all rejected by the thief. If the person was homeless, I'm surprised they ditched the food, it was nutritious and shelf-stable. (I redelivered the packages.)

zaarn 8y ago
Some part of me is prepared to pay that price.

PyroLagus 8y ago

If you want to be really evil, you use Thioacetone: https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2009/06/11/things_i_wont_work_with_thioacetone https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2009/06/11/th... As far as I'm aware, it's the worst smelling chemical known to humans and has no damaging long term effects. You just have to be veeery careful about it unless you want to stink up the whole town by accident.

justwalt 8y ago
This reads like an urban legend. I’ll have to shake the rust off my OChem lab experience and try some synthesis. Kidding of course, but I it makes wonder how easy this would be for an amateur to synthesize. The consequences being making an entire town nauseous makes this whole thing pretty enigmatic.
zaarn 8y ago
I think if this was sprayed into the insides of your car, you'd probably never use the car again and/or never steal packages again either. The trauma resulting from the smell might just be enough.