Hey &T. I've been reading some of the threads here on night ops, and I've become interested in this topic. I've read Psychlonic's Way of the Shadow and I'm just dying to get out and perform my first ever night op.

I'm planning on carrying a multitool, folding knife(3.5"), flashlight(w/ pinhole reduction mod), and maybe a flathead screwdriver.

I was wondering, is there any advice that is good for novices? (Equipment, good novice targets, lockpicking techniques, or any general tips...etc.)

Your equipment is more than adequate for right now. You gotta learn to travel undetected and get up to buildings before you can learn to pick locks. The best novice targets, in my opinion, are back yards. A lot of people will say construction sites, but I feel this creates a lazy operative who's used to staying as far away from people as he can. Press yourself against fences, peek over and look for PIR lights, dog houses, anything that's going to cause you problems, and get into people's yards. If they've got sheds out back, see if you can get into them without making a big racket. Yard hopping will force you to try to maintain your best noise discipline and observation. You can't just shrug off mistakes like you can at a construction site.
Learn to get comfortable with hiding when people go by, learn to drop and roll behind shrubbery and tall plants and wait them out. If you're in a heavy urban environment and don't want to just walk down the sidewalk in a hoodie, start from the easiest place possible and scout overhangs for PIR lights and camera. Learn to crawl behind parking stubs, parked vehicles, garbage cans, anything and everything that can give you cover. Learn to move to areas you know people aren't going to just look at, think in your mind how people tend to view things, what would stand out, and avoid doing that.

The single most important thing for you, the new operative, to do right now is kill your nerves with some real, possibility-of-consequence experience. Yard hopping will definitely test your patience and abilities but at the same time isn't a high risk venture. It can be pretty nerve racking when you're in a shadow with 3 lit houses surrounding you (hey even for me still sometimes), but if you know you're not seen, just take your time and plot your next move carefully.

The whole "fear keeps you alive" thing is cute and all, but it's going to be a severe hindrance in a night operation. You have to learn confidence.

I came to this thread to flame you because I don't like night ops, its not my style but if you just absolutely have to do it then here are some common sense tips. Seeing as how It's your first time then you might get caught in tough places.

If spotted act normal, or lost, depending on your situation. also interact with people as if nothing is going on.

If asked give all wrong information without skipping a beat.
''hey there what you doing behind that bush?'' ''oh you know when nature calls''

"Why do you have a flash light?"-"because its dark, duh"

"Why you have a screwdriver?"-"because I replaced my light switch face plate earlier and forgot I was carrying it."

"You look suspicious"-"or do I look like a ninja?! haha"

"Get off my lawn!!" or "what you doing on my property?"-"sorry sir i was just gonna clean up some shit my dog did here earlier."

"Followed by, I don't see no shit on my damn yard there!"-"oh then it must be the next yard sorry. then walk away"

If caught in the backyard say you were trying to sneak in to your girlfriends room but that's the wrong house. then leave quick while apologizing.

In other words its called social manipulation skills, do you have them? they are necessary in life.

Haha this. I usually prefer not to have human interaction during night ops, but if you must, this is what to do.

Thanks for the tips. I know its hard not to flame acolytes but I try my best to use common sense and not troll.

As for the sheds, what is the best course for gaining access to them?

Also, if there is a PIR sensor, should I just skip along and move to the next house? I'm not quite sure if those trigger an alarm or if they're just deterrents.

i don't have advice for you but i'm going to watch this thread for useful info. good luck

tits.

I'd leave the knife at home. How many people are you expecting to shank on your outing? It makes your story about being lost or just out for a walk or whatever a lot more believable if you aren't armed to the teeth. Also, if you're stopped by police or anyone you don't want to give them any reason to actually be able to arrest you.

So, unless you have a specific need of a crowbar, ninja sword, brick of C4, or a rocket launcher, leave that junk at home.

Yeah good tools man but id make sure you can easily dispose of the knife if the cops catch up with you or get suspicious, yeah the flashlight should be ok but i dunno about the screwdriver i doubt they'd believe you if you didn't have a reasonable explanation.

I suppose. I mean.. I was thinking of using it as a tool but I guess thats what the multitool is for. I just chose the screwdriver and knife because they're basically bare essentials for any outing.

Basically, I only want to night op for exploration purposes. Maybe take some pictures from a nice vantage point. I've been considering practicing parkour to help with the whole fence hopping and climbing but it'll have to wait cause it's cold as fuck out right now.

Any good alibis for getting out alive if I get caught?