How DO people disappear off grid and stay hidden?

[tubspreciousthings]

Just watching "hunted" on tv and it's reminded me of people who've disappeared (for good reason) and there's been lots of publicity to find them etc.

If military people or ex-cons - who are used to disappearing and avoiding capture - still seem to get caught easily, how on earth does anyone stay hidden??

Some may have to do with resources, trying to find a criminal will have a lot more resources thrown at it then a general member of the public. Also often they will know exactly when and where a criminal escaped so have a smaller search area.

If someone just wanted to disappear, they could just go anywhere, they would pretty much have to live 'off-grid' - squatting, cash in hand jobs, but no-one would really know where to start to look.

I think as well the ex-cons etc may get 'cocky' and start to put their head above the parapet, moreso than someone just wanting to seemingly disappear.

Alternatively they may appear years later in Panama claiming amnesia.

It must be so difficult though. I think of parents who've take off with their children for medical treatment abroad etc - how do they get out the country without being detected? What if they need medical help etc?

Well There’s that man who disappeared before being sent to prison recently
( was responsible for the death of a woman on a speedboat I think)
He seems to have just gone ‘off grid’
You’d need to leave everything behind including family and friends and not touch healthcare travel banking/ credit or any police contact - really difficult I’d imagine
Mind you he will get caught eventually

I think Hunted is a bit set up, it wouldn’t be that easy to locate and track a real-life missing person case.

I guess you need an accomplice who the police don't associate with you who can use a bank account, rent ect.

And a criminal source of income. I bet that's how most of them are caught - they're arrested for whatever they're doing for cash, then the police work out who they are.

Hunted is BS, it's not that realistic. If you wanted to disappear you'd need initial help, some contacts and to get out the country as quickly as possible then start a new life abroad with fake papers. No idea how the hell you'd find the contacts though. I guess you have to know people. Otherwise it'd be head down, cash in hand work and always looking over your shoulder.

I live in a bit of the UK where seedy, horrible people often flee to when they are in trouble with the law, so when I read stuff I always memorise their face and look out for them

What about people like that kid Andrew godden (?)

Just walked out of his house and hasn't been seen since.
14 years he's been missing.

Hunted is an utter load of shite.

I always thought that a canal boat would be a good option for someone wanting to 'disappear' in the UK.
It would be very easy to buy a boat with cash, give a false name to the licensing authority (no ID is needed) and go by a nickname to other boaters. There are loads of people living as 'Continuous Cruisers' on the canal network and no other boater would ask too many questions. If you can work cash in hand and stay healthy, you could scuttle around the whole country and stay under the radar for years I reckon.

You would need a new bank account to pay for electricity for example, can you just walk into a bank and set up an account or do you need I'd?

They always find them far too quickly to be genuine in “hunted” I think. The fact the hunted people have camera crews with them won’t help either

I often wonder though when I hear of people going into hiding with children. My youngest can’t hold his water, there is no way he would be able to keep our identity hidden. He’d have us scooped by lunchtime.

Merry I think in the case of Andrew and similar it could be presumed that either something very bad has happened within a shortish timeframe of them having disappeared or that they'd be living on the streets so could be anywhere begging/ squatting etc. Living an off grid lifestyle but not a good one.

Landlords who rent rooms illegally no questions asked exist. People who will employ others illegally cash in hand exist. It would be an insecure and grim existence- think of all the things you couldn't access without an identity. And then there will always be people who sell fake identities. I'm don't know how easy it would be to purchase one that could stand up to more than the briefest scrutiny but the internet is full of sites offering fake licenses and all sorts.

@DDIJ I'm sorry you feel like that - are you very unhappy? Can you talk to anyone?