Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: 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?
-
Razor wire, and a mine field.
-
You could try a couple "Beware of Dog" signs, maybe borrow a Rottweiler for a few days.
dago
-
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?
-
(http://www.geo-outdoors.info/icons/bear_trap_teeth_1.jpg)
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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"
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
Put one of these signs on your fence where they jump over
(http://www.galatiinternational.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/MRS003.jpg)
You can buy them HERE (http://www.galatiinternational.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GIO&Product_Code=MRS003)
-
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.
-
Higher fence or a mudpit at the point of exfil will deter them.
Even a garden.
-
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?
-
Dang you hiding a military grade weapons cache or something?
-
Motion activated floodlights is what I have - on the three sides of my house that are exposed. Plus secure Chubb locks. It works for me. Just got back from 2 weeks away - no problems at all.
Gotta laugh at the fact that the trespassers are undeterred by the threat of your guns - :lol
-
Originally posted by Meatwad
Dang you hiding a military grade weapons cache or something?
My thoughts too.. Whatcha growing?
-
If you have a shotgun open some shells up take the pelets out and alittle gunpoder if is a 12 gauge and put some rock salt in it. Next time you see one in your yard pop em in the leg then call the cops and have them aressted for trespassing. Make em think twice about it next time. :D
-
Plant some Cactus or thorny bushes at their entry point and feed them with a liberal sprinkling of manure.
They will be deterred.
To be honest if they use the same route by day i fail to see how floodlights at night will help.
Of course if you hold a couple of Gay guy party weekends in the back yard that could be just as effective :D
-
The motion lights and camera are an excellent idea. House dog, too. Once you catch some of the perps with the evidence, word'll get around for those to not cut through your property.
As for those (I know some were jokes :) ) suggesting certain signs, firearms, booby traps, etc., you can kiss your house (and any hope of future property ownership) with the tremendous legal costs defending yourself from the modern "Sue 'em even though it's my fault" mindset.
Edit: ... above if due to death or serious injury.
-
Originally posted by 214thCavalier
Of course if you hold a couple of Gay guy party weekends in the back yard that could be just as effective :D
ROFL - That would explain it! It's mostly families round here, but the occupants of the house across from me are a couple of gay guys. :) That's OK though. They seem nice enough but keep themselves to themselves.
-
I don't suppose it would be possible to connect a motion detector and your lawn sprinklers?
-
Originally posted by majic
I don't suppose it would be possible to connect a motion detector and your lawn sprinklers?
Brilliant!!! :D
-
Make a maze through the yard.
That oughta make them think twice whether its faster to go around or "thru" your yard.
Or simply put some mud along the fence on the other side.
If you want to make it prettier, put some flowers on it.
Nobody wants to cut through a yard if they have to mess up their shoes and pants.
-
Hire a marine
-
open your front and back door and allow them to walk through your house - kids will be kids
lol
-
Originally posted by majic
I don't suppose it would be possible to connect a motion detector and your lawn sprinklers?
Sure ya could.
Connect the motion detector to the same kind of electric valve that lets water into a washing machine.
Damn I wish I had trespassers now.
Hmmm. I suppose I could always run a sprinkler system to the sidewalk.
That in itself would be funny inasmuch as the rest of my lawn doesnt have a sprinkler system:lol
-
at my house we solved the problem by removing the fences and accepting that kids will be kids. nothing has ever been vandalized or stolen and when the fruit trees are bearing fruit many knock and ask if they may pick some fruit. now my neighbor to north who is somewhat more territorial is always having problems with neighborhood teens.
-
Wow a... "military grade weapons cache " is three lousy firearms these days?
I don't think any kid in America expects to be shot for cutting through someones yard.. even tho they know the owner is probly armed. We don't do that here. There is a big difference between cutting through the yard and stealing or vandalizing tho... bet they don't do much of that.
lazs
-
Originally posted by storch
at my house we solved the problem by removing the fences and accepting that kids will be kids. nothing has ever been vandalized or stolen and when the fruit trees are bearing fruit many knock and ask if they may pick some fruit. now my neighbor to north who is somewhat more territorial is always having problems with neighborhood teens.
Wow. My kinda neighbor. and another one of those things that were there when I was a kid and now is gone.
There were several houses whos yards we used to cut through when I was a kid. Usually just to get from one block to the next. And a coupole leading to parks we used to hang out in.
Homeowners never minded and one even invited us to come hang out and use her pool during the summer in exchange for some yardwork (which didnt amount to much considering most of her yard was pool or concrete around it) and cleaning out the pool.
Another couple houses had fruit trees. Cherry and Mulberry mostly but a couple had apple trees
None of the owners minded us hanging out,picking and eating the fruit. and actually seemed to enjoy us stopping by.
One would even give us bags to put the stuff into to take home.
I remember one summer specifically our daily routine was first thing head to the park play baseball or Wilsons lot for football. Then we'd stop and eat the fruit of our choice. Then off to Mrs. Heydews to go swimming.
Great summer.
Those trees are all gone now. Wilsons lot is still there but never see any kids playing there anymore.
Damn shame
Always wanted to get a couple cherry and mulberry trees to plant in my front yard just so the kids in my neighborhood could have that same kind of experiance
-
.
-
Originally posted by Halo
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?
No cameras, but motion sensor lights that light up the back yard like daylight. We also have a home security system as well as a dog that likes to bark when there are people that are trespassing without escort (without one of us around)
The downfall of the motion lights is that coyotes and the dog will set them off too. We'd never have anyone crossing our property, as my backyard borders a 100 ft. cliff. I'm more concerned about entry from the front yard, but security lights are mounted on the front of the house too.
-
Originally posted by Ripsnort
No cameras, but motion sensor lights that light up the back yard like daylight.
If it werent for the dogs what your doing with motion detector lights is giving the tresspassers light to see so they dont trip and fall thus saving yourself a lawsuit?
Basically thats all your doing with motion sensors.
How often would the motion sensor lights wake you up at 3 AM?
And the lights will only catch someone if either your awake,or there happens to be a cop nearby. And thats only if the cop doesnt think its the homeowner.
-
when we first moved in to this house (15 yrs ago) we had some trouble with trespassers and even one break-in (my dog chewed on him for awhile).
the door from the backyard to the porch has a 2' x 3' window in it, and had one of the basic pull-down plastic window shades on it and is very visible from off of our property.
after the break-in I went to the shooting range and dumped 2 clips into the 9-10 area of a silhouette target, then took it home, cut the window shade off the roll and replaced it with the target.
when we'd lock up for the night I'd pull the shade down and leave the light on. at first glanse it lookede like someone was standing in the window, until you noticed the light shinning through the holes. the problems stopped instantly. apparently even the stupidest guys got the point.
-
Originally posted by DREDIOCK
If it werent for the dogs what your doing with motion detector lights is giving the tresspassers light to see so they dont trip and fall thus saving yourself a lawsuit?
Basically thats all your doing with motion sensors.
How often would the motion sensor lights wake you up at 3 AM?
And the lights will only catch someone if either your awake,or there happens to be a cop nearby. And thats only if the cop doesnt think its the homeowner.
Lights going on and off usually deter someone from entering your yard. They think everyones asleep. If the dog trips the light, then thats a good thing. Light is a burgulars worse enemy.
-
Originally posted by capt. apathy
when we first moved in to this house (15 yrs ago) we had some trouble with trespassers and even one break-in (my dog chewed on him for awhile).
the door from the backyard to the porch has a 2' x 3' window in it, and had one of the basic pull-down plastic window shades on it and is very visible from off of our property.
after the break-in I went to the shooting range and dumped 2 clips into the 9-10 area of a silhouette target, then took it home, cut the window shade off the roll and replaced it with the target.
when we'd lock up for the night I'd pull the shade down and leave the light on. at first glanse it lookede like someone was standing in the window, until you noticed the light shinning through the holes. the problems stopped instantly. apparently even the stupidest guys got the point.
:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl Excellent!
-
What you need is motion detecting floodlights,and one of these.It is a sprinkler with a motion sensor.
http://www.biconet.com/critter/sprinkler.html
(http://www.biconet.com/critter/GIFs/deer_jumping.jpg)
(http://www.biconet.com/critter/GIFs/dogcatcrow.jpg)
Shoots water up to 45 feet in a 100 degree arc.
I'd like to buy one and aim it the sidewalk.:cool:
-
LOL! My dog would stand there trying to drink the water from the sprinkler head! :) But for Halo, this might be the ticket! (Of course, they might crush that sprinkler in retaliation )
-
LOL!!!! Found a video of the Scarecrow in action...
http://www.critter-repellent.com/contech/media/crowloop_high.wmv
edit:the site with the video has it for about $25 less-link.
http://www.critter-repellent.com/contech/scarecrow-sprinkler.html
-
Originally posted by Sox62
LOL!!!! Found a video of the Scarecrow in action...
http://www.critter-repellent.com/contech/media/crowloop_high.wmv
edit:the site with the video has it for about $25 less-link.
http://www.critter-repellent.com/contech/scarecrow-sprinkler.html
:aok :rofl
-
Originally posted by Gunslinger
try paintballs. Put up sign saying "paint ball game in progress enter at own risk"
They'll give you assault with a deadly weapon for that nowadays.
-
Set up for my aunt was a motion detector, floodlight and a ravenous barking rottie recording.
Didn't work.
The recording ate the tapedeck.
You might consider going with a standard 6' stockade style fence... good fences = good neighbors.
-
Originally posted by Sox62
What you need is motion detecting floodlights,and one of these.It is a sprinkler with a motion sensor.
(http://www.biconet.com/critter/GIFs/deer_jumping.jpg)
Thats to poorly photoshopped it is crazy. Replace it with a sheep or someone from the BBS and it will be funnier.
-
Originally posted by Meatwad
Thats to poorly photoshopped it is crazy. Replace it with a sheep or someone from the BBS and it will be funnier.
I know it is.
The video however isn't.
-
Originally posted by Ripsnort
No cameras, but motion sensor lights that light up the back yard like daylight. We also have a home security system as well as a dog that likes to bark when there are people that are trespassing without escort (without one of us around)
The downfall of the motion lights is that coyotes and the dog will set them off too. We'd never have anyone crossing our property, as my backyard borders a 100 ft. cliff. I'm more concerned about entry from the front yard, but security lights are mounted on the front of the house too.
EXACTLY!
or cats..or trees swaying if it is windy.
I liked that one cactus idea
but just plant raspberries instead. they will grow in almost any type of soil, have thorns, and have fruit.
2 birds with one stone.
-
If it is such a great shortcut then why not simply create a fenced in corridor for them to travel through?
lazs
-
Here ya go.... PLEASE PLEASE try to get footage of this in action if you can. That would be hilarious@!
http://cgi.ebay.com/SCARECROW-Motion-Activated-Water-Garden-Sprinkler-NEW_W0QQitemZ7705414776QQcategoryZ50365QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
edit.. hmm now link wont work... they sell the motion sensor sprinklers on ebay... type in "scarecrow sprinklers"
looks like about $45-$50
-
Originally posted by lazs2
Wow a... "military grade weapons cache " is three lousy firearms these days?
I don't think any kid in America expects to be shot for cutting through someones yard.. even tho they know the owner is probly armed. We don't do that here. There is a big difference between cutting through the yard and stealing or vandalizing tho... bet they don't do much of that.
lazs
I was thinking the same thing. Three guns? I have that many in the trunk right now. And not one of them a semiautomatic evil Assault Weapon.
Now, if we were talking about a brace of AK-47s, an M1A or two, and a few thousand rounds of ammo, we'd be talking "cache".
Fellas, most of the solutions offered here are illegal. No electric fences, no tear gas, no rock salt, NO NO NO!
But that sprinkler idea, now...me likes it!
-
I was thinking Halo should maybe go see a Doctor to untangle his hemoroids as there obviously in a knot...:rolleyes:
-
Also...In my state, trespassers cannot be arrested unless
A) Its posted no trespassin
B)The person has been confronted at least once and warned.
Your state may vary.
-
Originally posted by Ripsnort
LOL! My dog would stand there trying to drink the water from the sprinkler head! :) But for Halo, this might be the ticket! (Of course, they might crush that sprinkler in retaliation )
LMAO thats exactly what mine would do also. Then he'd probably knock the darn thing over and break it.
Might not be a bad idea for the sidwalk though.
Catch those early morning joggers
-
...more evidence a cat is 10 times smarter than a dog. ;)
-
Originally posted by Meatwad
Dang you hiding a military grade weapons cache or something?
Originally posted by SunKing
My thoughts too.. Whatcha growing?
You "City Boys" crack me up. I built the fences myself in high school. My Dad paid me $1 an hour to do it after working on them a year for free. The briars and trees just came along naturally. Now I have a privacy hedgerow perimeter.
I have a deer rifle, a shot gun, a pistol and Ol' Jim ("now THAT'S a knife"). Nothing out of the ordinary, especially in the country.
The electric fence was a cheap way to keep the horses away from the house. Now they can't poop by my bedroom window or chew up the cover to my jaccuzi. I got the highest amperage fence charger I could so it would burn thru weeds. The fact it will knock the pee out of ya if you come sneaking up in the dark is just a fringe benefit.
The reason I put my house where nobody could see it? Because I could.:cool:
-
Electronic devices?? What happened to guts? Just tell 'em to stay off your property.
Les
-
Talked with county police today and found that at least in Virginia, trespassers are not viewed with much alarm. If more people knew how lenient the law is, there probably would be a lot more trespassing.
I naively figured that in an established suburb where all the backyards are fenced, anyone climbing a fence into someone else's property would be guilty and punished with at least an official warning and probably a fine.
Nope.
First, if I am concerned, I should post No Trespassing signs. (Right, in an established suburban neighborhood where all the backyards are connected by chain link fences clearly marking property lines.)
Second, I would have to identify any trespassers ("You there, stand still and give me some identification") and have them served with a No Trespassing Order.
Third, if they trespassed again, I could report them and then maybe something would happen in the justice system.
Notice in none of these instances are police present at the scene. Because in most cases the trespassers leave before the police could arrive. If they don't, that's another situation, usually a more serious confrontation.
And of course if a property owner detains a trespasser by threat or force, that could go badly for the property owner for using force beyond what is called for (whatever that is).
The cop I spoke with was responsive and sympathetic, but clearly reflected that trespassing itself is not a major problem compared to all the more serious crimes being committed.
He said he has not seen security cameras being that useful for most homeowners, explaining that the highest quality systems that give pictures good enough for solid evidence are very expensive (i.e., several thousand dollars) for what they return.
So now I'm retreating slightly to installing motion activated floodlights as the quickest and most effective trespassing deterrent for the money.
I'll keep looking into motion activated infra red security cameras feeding into a DVR, but that will be a longer term possibility rather than an immediate implementation.
Another potential longer term solution will be considering a suburbanly acceptable but formidable hedge of some sort; if nothng else it would obscure the inviting open panomara that now exists.
Incidentally, one of the best quick illumination devices I found is a Brinkmann Maxfire LX Lithium/Xenon flashlight that is 12 times brighter than a comparable 2AA flashlight. It's also brighter than a 2C Mag-Lite, although the bigger and heavier Mag-Lite would be a much better last resort club.
The Maxfire is only $20 at Wal-Mart. You can buy three for the $60 similar models start at in gun stores.
-
Yet another reason I love Texas.
Someone on your property?
"Halt, I am in fear." Bang.
No witnesses?
Bang. "Halt, I am in fear."
-
Possible Solutions:
a) Blare Wierd Al's "Trigger Happy" from a loudspeaker in your backyard 24/7
b) Motion Activated Anti-Personnel Flechette Gun - 'nuff said