I am not a veteran when it comes to punting but on some occasions when I go and try walk ups, I seldom try to hide my identity. That is, Idon't wear a cap, or pretend I am sick by wearing a mask. I noticed some middle aged bros try to sneak into these doors wearing caps, masks, shades (winter scarves too) and other things to help conceal their identity in case they come across a familiar place in the neighborhood.

Are you like them who make elaborate preparations on covering your identity or like me, just carefree, casually walking then make a sudden entry into the walk up stairs?

Would be good to know your thoughts.

If it's a legit operation then I'm not hiding anything.  If it's not then I don't put on any disguises but I will try to enter and exit the place quickly to avoid LE.

I guess when you are more conscious about getting caught, that's when you get caught, accidentally bump into someone you know or simply in the place for the wrong time (captured in Google street view, background in some movie shoot, or documentary footage)

I do the same as you 2zzh22k20, pretend to walk casually but enter the place as quickly as possible.

No,never tried to hide my identity. True, would be terrible if someone i knew found out but i just walk up there casually.

AMEN! the best is always to have a cover story as well, it can help to deflect some attention and have a distraction effect. cover stories aint 100% fool proof, but will help alot.

If its a place or an area where I would feel the need to hide my identity, I probably wouldn't go there.

Yeah, so if I live in HK island, maybe it's safer to go to Tai Po, Kowloon City or Yuen Long. But you never know! I have come across familiar faces everywhere.

SO I see the general consensus so far is that we don't really cover our faces when doing this thing. Maybe those folks I saw the other day who cover their faces are uncommon or have had traumatic experiences they don't want to take any chances..

If someone recognizes you in disguise, you are going to have a lot of explaining to do.

GF friend to GF "I saw john yesterday wearing a hat, it really (or not) suits him. But I didn't get why he was wearing a fake nose, glasses and a trench coat"

Look like you belong and are doing nothing wrong. Start twitching a looking around and you are obvious.
We clue in on things that stand out, something primal in us notices the nervous, scared and the odd man out.
Cover your face and we instinctively want to know why.



You'd be better off writing Accountant or even better jewelry designer appointment and the address of the walk up on a scrap of paper.
If busted vaguely wave the piece of paper "er ah damn not 38/345  Smith was it 34/385 Smith st? damn why didn't I write the phone number down"

[ Last edited by  HenryMiller at 30-1-2011 08:54 ]

Yeah, ya gotta have cover stories prepared and ready to go...  and work through the follow-up questions that an SO is likely to ask too.  But keep it simple.  

I have about 4 solid reasons to be in WanChai (during the day anyway, 4am stories are less convvincing...):  Tom Lee music is there, WanChai Computer Center is near, I have business collegues in a few surrounding buildings.. etc.  I'll settle on "todays story" and maybe even set the scene earlier in the day or week (rant to my SO about the DVD player on my PC or something - a reason to go to WanChai Computer Center at some point).

If I am spotted in WanChai and she asks me about it - "yep, babe, I met a client at the EastAsiaBank building (just down the road), grabbed a beer with him after work..., and man this guy's a real dick.., made me wait 30 minutes in his lobby.. blaa, blaa, blaa."  Whatever... just some boring detail about the moment that is simple and easy and normal.  The trick is have the scene prepared and in your mind (the guy's name, where you ate, how was the food, etc.) so it comes out normal.  And then quickly shut down talking about it.  Dont add any more than you must.  If she keeps questioning you keep calmly answering, maybe with small simple (and true) elaborations that could change the topic in a natural way.

A punter mate and I were talking about all our tricks and games to keep our activites secret, and how to save the ship when you eventually hit the iceburg.  (It WILL eventually happen, so you need to be ready with a plan, alibis, other mates you can use as back up, etc.)  Man, we laughed.., punters should be recruited by the FBI with all the deception-skills we've acquired.

I have a friend who doesnt go punting because he is afraid he may run into his wife's business clients, or someone that his wife knows... I always ask him to wear sunglasses, a hoodie, and change his hairstyle if he goes.

I lived in Wan Chai for 2+ years and that's before I discovered this kind of business. If I was involvedbefore, maybe I would have skipped the area for fear of meeting someone I know (my property agent, my basketball pal or that friend who works at Yoshinoya)