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Stealth Force Beta
YetAnotherName writes "Geeky college pranks are not just the purview of big name science and technology schools. Now that statutes of limitations have expired, Stealth Force Beta, a group of 'constructive vandals' who operated at New Mexico Tech, tell of their exploits. From crawling around steam tunnels, to mounting complex radio surveillance, to getting trapped in elevator shafts, the stories are inspirational, funny, and probably familiar in some way to many /. readers."
The MIT portion of which is well documented here. Great stuff.
"Groups of FBI, CIA, WhatHaveYou"
That's what the mean by "statute of limitations". In the US, most crimes have to be prosecuted within a certian number of years of their comission. If they aren't, they statute of limitations runs out and you can no longer be prosecuted for them.
here And a detailed explanation of how it was done here
here's a write-up of the mcdonalds contest scam here
other caltech stunts including the rosebowl score board prank, and the great barberpole theft. here
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
For a good read about college pranks, search out If at All Possible, Involve a Cow, by Neil Steinberg.
It's a well researched cronicle of the history of college pranks, and covers the famous MIT and Caltech pranks, but goes beyond the more publicized events to get behind the scenes as much as possible. It also covers the history or college pranks and includes the origins of several college rivalrys, such as midnight raids to capture and recover "prized" school artifacts.
Sadly, it now seems to be out of print, but it's worth finding a used copy or checking your local library.
ISBN 0-312-07810-2
Check out this page:
http://www.ncfelonymurder.org/janet.html
to see how one stupid prank gone awry earned a young woman life imprisonment without possibility of parole.
You can find a few copies here