Author Topic: Deterring Trespassers (Read 1990 times)

Halo · « **on:** August 07, 2005, 07:55:41 PM »

What do you do to deter trespassers at your home?

We live in a nice safe suburb but over the years have had occasional problems with people hopping over our low chainlink fence in the backyard and cutting through our yard, around the side of our house and out to the street in front.

They mostly come from a middle school cattycornered to our quarter-acre property and one lot away. It's one thing to see a kid or two in the daylight, but the last two nights they have been large young adults at 3 a.m. one time and 9:30 p.m. the next.

I didn't see them the first night, but the second night I saw two walking past the back door and yelled at them. They continued around the house and from the front window I saw them walking away across the street.

I have guns and know how to use them, but am not willing to escalate what appears to be trespassing into something much more serious. Fortunately we have no incidents of vandalism or property damage. If intruders ever break into my house, that would be another story.

Trespassers usually start at our neighbor's house nearest the school, and get excited when her dog chases them. But instead of retreating, they jump the fence into my yard.

We've had dogs but don't want anymore, so that is no longer an option for us.

I'm looking into motion activated surveillance cameras and floodlights as the most likely deterrence. Culprits never know where their image is being monitored or whether it is being recorded for later prosecution.

Do you have any similar home security situation? If so, how are you handling it?

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2005, 08:00:05 PM »

Razor wire, and a mine field.

Dago · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2005, 08:08:52 PM »

You could try a couple "Beware of Dog" signs, maybe borrow a Rottweiler for a few days.

dago

Gunslinger · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2005, 08:10:30 PM »

that kinda sucks

you're a property owner so you are libal if somone gets injured while tresspassing. I can only think of confronting them but it sounds like these are kids and they don't respond well to that.

set up some trip wires with CS/pepper spray bombs maybe?

Vulcan · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2005, 08:11:12 PM »

I hear youngens taste just fine bbq'd

edit: on 2nd thoughts leave the first one there for a couple of weeks to discourage others.

Heretic · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2005, 09:25:51 PM »

Halo,

Good idea by not using guns. Not a good idea. Even if you never pointed the gun anywhere near them they would use that against you if it ever got dirty with the police.

I would suggest motion activated floodlights. Not sure how your yard is set up but have enough of the lights to light up your whole backyard if the punks decide to try to cut thru your yard again. Once lit up they will think twice about not using your yard for a shortcut.

Best of luck with your trespassers. Keep us posted.

loser · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2005, 09:41:02 PM »

Yeah but floodlights will keep you up all night.

If not the light itself, the fact of them clicking on will get you thinking "oh carp, are they gonna break into my garage? are they messing with my car?"

Best thing to do...build a gate so they can get through easier.

Meatwad · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2005, 09:45:00 PM »

How about wiring up an electric fence to your current fence. put some signs up so they were warned before they jump it. turn it up to max so when they touch it

POW!!

or get a cattle prod on a long stick so when they walk by your window, you can "reach out and touch someone"

Halo · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2005, 10:38:41 PM »

Thanks, SEGunner, motion activated lights are a good idea. Plus surveillance cameras, especially infrared. I've had good reports on these from the Internet and friends, so that's where I'm headed.

With cameras, trespassers never know who is looking at them or where they are being recorded, but they should know they are marked with some really tough evidence if it comes to court.

Meatwad · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2005, 11:29:30 PM »

i got one of them motion lights in the driveway here. dont turn the sensitiveity up too high, or every car that drives by turns it on.

Masherbrum · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2005, 11:29:54 PM »

Put up a privacy fence (at least 6') in the said area. Tear up some sod, make some mud. They'll be gone before you know it.

Karaya

kevykev56 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2005, 11:57:29 PM »

Put one of these signs on your fence where they jump over

You can buy them HERE

Gunslinger · « **Reply #12 on:** August 08, 2005, 12:23:31 AM »

try paintballs. Put up sign saying "paint ball game in progress enter at own risk"

or you can cover your entire yard with feces. I know people don't like to step in doodoo (sertain FDBs may be the exception) and eventually no on will want to climb your fence.

RTSigma · « **Reply #13 on:** August 08, 2005, 01:08:04 AM »

Higher fence or a mudpit at the point of exfil will deter them.

Even a garden.

rpm · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2005, 01:37:51 AM »

My house is pretty well hidden. I'm a 1/2 mile off the highway behind a hill covered with trees. I have 5 strand barbed wire fencing overgrown with briars, brush and trees surrounding my 200 acres and my gates have combination locks. If anyone makes it thru that, 2 strand electric yard fence, motion detector yard lights, 8mm Mod 98 Mauser, Remmington 1200 12 ga, Ruger PDC90 .45 and a Bowie knife.

Ya'll come back now, ya hear?