The Abandoned Building Obsession in Michigan That Tourists Keep Getting Arrested For

The abandoned Packard Automotive Plant in Detroit has become one of the most infamous urban exploration sites in America.

This massive industrial ruin attracts photographers and adventurers from around the world, but many visitors end up in handcuffs instead of getting their dream shots.

Understanding why so many tourists face arrest at this crumbling landmark can help you appreciate the serious legal and safety issues surrounding this decaying piece of automotive history.

1. Trespassing is Illegal (Private Property)

Private property laws are taken seriously in Michigan, and the Packard Plant has been privately owned for years. Walking onto the property without written permission from the owner is considered criminal trespassing, plain and simple.

Police officers patrol the area regularly and have the legal authority to arrest anyone found on the premises without authorization. Many tourists mistakenly believe that because the building looks abandoned, nobody cares if they explore.

The reality is quite different; owners and the city actively enforce trespassing laws to protect themselves from liability. Getting caught can result in fines, criminal charges, and a permanent record that follows you home.

2. Increased Security Presence

Property owners and Detroit city officials eventually had enough of constant break-ins and hired professional security teams to guard the site. These aren’t just casual observers; they’re trained personnel with direct lines to local police departments.

The Packard Plant’s international fame made it a security nightmare, forcing owners to invest heavily in patrols and surveillance. Security guards actively monitor entrances, broken fences, and popular entry points that urban explorers have shared online.

When guards spot trespassers, they immediately contact law enforcement, who typically arrive within minutes. The combination of private security and police response creates a tight net that catches dozens of tourists every year attempting to sneak inside for photos.

3. Towing and Stranding Visitors

One particularly effective deterrent involved towing the vehicles of anyone caught trespassing on the property. Imagine exploring the ruins only to return and find your car completely gone; no warning, no second chances.

Former property owners used this aggressive tactic to send a clear message to would-be explorers. Getting your vehicle back meant paying expensive towing and storage fees, plus facing potential criminal charges.

The surrounding neighborhood has historically been isolated and high-crime, making tourists extremely vulnerable when stranded without transportation. This strategy not only punished trespassers financially but also put them in genuinely dangerous situations, forcing many to call police themselves for help getting home safely.

4. Public Nuisance Declarations

Detroit city government officially declared the Packard Plant a massive public nuisance due to safety hazards, criminal activity, and the constant stream of trespassers. This legal designation gave law enforcement greater authority to crack down on unauthorized visitors.

When a property receives this classification, police are expected to actively patrol and enforce restrictions rather than simply responding to complaints. The declaration essentially made the Packard Plant a high-priority enforcement zone.

City officials faced immense pressure from residents tired of dealing with traffic from tourists, emergency response costs, and the negative publicity surrounding the site. Arresting trespassers became part of a larger strategy to address community concerns and ultimately demolish or redevelop portions of the property.

5. Structural Collapse Hazard

Decades of abandonment left the Packard Plant in catastrophic condition, with floors, ceilings, and staircases collapsing regularly. Water damage, fire, and vandalism weakened structural supports throughout the massive complex, creating deadly traps for anyone walking through.

Police weren’t just arresting people for property violations; they were trying to prevent deaths and serious injuries. Emergency responders had been called multiple times to rescue explorers trapped under collapsed debris or fallen through rotted floors.

Every rescue operation costs taxpayers thousands of dollars and puts firefighters and paramedics at risk. Arresting trespassers became a preventative measure to stop people from entering a building that engineers classified as imminently dangerous and potentially fatal to explore.

6. Target of Criminals and Robberies

Word spread quickly among local criminals that the Packard Plant attracted tourists carrying expensive camera gear, laptops, and cash. Photographers became easy targets for robberies, assaults, and even carjackings in the surrounding area.

Criminals would wait near popular entrances or follow tourists back to their vehicles, knowing victims were distracted and vulnerable. Several violent incidents forced police to increase patrols and arrest anyone found on the property, partly for their own protection.

Law enforcement realized that allowing tourist access essentially created a hunting ground for predators. Arresting trespassers became a way to protect naive visitors from becoming crime victims in an area with limited police resources and slow emergency response times.

7. Illegal Scrapping Activity

Professional scrappers systematically stripped the Packard Plant of valuable copper wiring, steel beams, and any sellable metal they could remove. This organized theft operation created extreme noise, toxic dust clouds containing asbestos, and a dangerous environment of territorial disputes.

Scrappers didn’t appreciate tourists interfering with their illegal business and sometimes threatened or attacked explorers who wandered into active stripping zones. Police were trying to shut down these criminal operations, which accelerated the building’s deterioration.

Anyone found inside the plant risked being mistaken for a scrapper or getting caught up in raids targeting theft rings. Law enforcement couldn’t easily distinguish between curious photographers and criminals actively destroying the property for profit.

8. Hiding Place for Illegal Activity

The sprawling, maze-like interior of the Packard Plant made it a perfect hideout for drug dealers, users, and people engaged in various illegal activities. Police regularly found evidence of drug operations, weapons storage, and unfortunately, human remains within the complex.

These discoveries triggered massive police responses, including K-9 units, SWAT teams, and crime scene investigators who locked down entire sections of the property. Tourists caught inside during these operations faced immediate arrest and intensive questioning.

Law enforcement couldn’t risk letting anyone wander freely through what had become an active crime scene. The building’s notorious reputation meant police treated every trespasser as potentially dangerous until proven otherwise, leading to aggressive enforcement tactics and zero tolerance policies.

9. International Ruin Porn Fame

The Packard Plant became the global poster child for urban decay and Detroit’s industrial collapse, featured in countless photography books, documentaries, and social media posts. This “ruin porn” phenomenon made the site a bucket-list destination for photographers from Europe, Asia, and across America.

Despite widespread knowledge about arrests and dangers, the building’s iconic status kept drawing adventurers who believed capturing the perfect shot was worth the risk. Online forums and photography communities shared detailed entry strategies, making the problem worse.

Police found themselves arresting tourists who had traveled thousands of miles specifically to photograph the ruins. The international attention created a never-ending cycle; more publicity meant more visitors, which meant more arrests, generating even more media coverage about the notorious location.

10. Guided Tours and Encouragement

Entrepreneurial locals began offering unofficial “guided tours” of the Packard Plant, charging tourists admission fees to illegally access the property. These guides misled visitors about the legality and safety of entering, claiming they had permission or special arrangements with authorities.

Many tourists genuinely believed they were participating in legitimate tours, only to find themselves facing arrest when police raided the property. The guides themselves often disappeared at the first sign of law enforcement, leaving their customers to face consequences alone.

Police intervention became necessary to shut down these scam operations that were profiting from illegal trespassing. Tourists arrested during these fake tours faced the difficult position of explaining to judges that they thought they had legal access, which rarely worked as a defense.