Urgent, need security help

[gcp]

Gents, I had a break-in at my property last week. They defeated the entrance cattlegate, easy to do and as shown in the pic, and they drove in to steal a 5x10 trailer, a couple of non-functional 4wheelers, and a bunch of other little things. But they didn't get into the workshops and the house, yet.

We are there only on the weekends and the locals know it so, can you please give me some ideas, with pics, on how I can build a better gate in front of or behind the current gate? Steel and cement I would assume would be they right materials to use so as they can't open and drive in.

Your immediate help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[burnieman]

Put up some trail cameras. Then if it happens, you can go hunting. Mountain justice.

 

[gcp]

As much as I LOVE the way you think masks can easily defeat camera pics.

I need to shore up the entrance so my wife can feel secure, if she's there alone.

 

[Sinecure]

GCP -

Sorry to hear about the break-in. I also have a remote property that is a not always occupied, so I know the feeling of being worried about your place/stuff why you are away.

I don't have the ability to post pictures right now, but here are some of the things I have done on my gate/entrance.

First, get yourself a better chain and lock. With portable grinders/etc, I thief can still cut about anything, but you want to make it as tough as possible (or have them have to stand at your gate for longer than they may want to).
I use the following chain and lock on my front gate. It is not cheap, but it is cheaper than the stuff behind the gate.

Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit Chain with Disc Lock - Street Motorcycle - Motorcycle Superstore

Second, I also use a security camera near the gate. Place it BEHIND the gate, where it can still be seen, but high enough up on a pole or tree so that someone would need a ladder to reach-it. (Not stand on a truck hood and steal it).
I did not have power at my gate, so I was required to get a camera that would email me a picture (via cell service) when it detects motion. You will get a lot of pictures of deer/etc, but you will also get pictures of anyone near your gate.
I went with this camera setup. It also is not cheap, but I was limited to available choices given my location and lack of power/etc at the property entrance. Mine is installed about 20 yards behind the gate up in a tree. You don't want to hide it. You want it to be seen as a detterent.

https://www.smartscouter.com/ssDefault.aspx

Once you install the camera, get a sign that states the property is under surveillance. I went with the biggest one I could find.
Property Protected by Video Surveillance Sign - No Trespassing, SKU: K-2257

I then installed cheaper security cameras on my property porch (watching the front door) and my workshop. These cameras were just basic web-cams. I was able to do this because I have power and a network/wireless connection at these locations. These cameras also email me a picture on any motion. These cameras cost under a 100 bucks each.

I also gave the local law enforcement a donation and asked them to drive by my property fairly regularly and light it up with the spotlight. They actually have been pretty good about doing this.

I have not had to resort to this extreme, but my neighbor dug a 6 foot wide trench behind his gate with a center cement cross support. The trench is about 4 feet deep. When he is home a large piece of plate steel covers the trench so he can drive over it. When he leaves, he uses his tractor to slide it back off the trench. This creates a gap in his driveway that is impossible to cross with a vehicle. His driveway is setup so that this is the only way to advance up his property.

The downside to this approach is that he has to leave his car at the gate when he returns and go get the tractor to push the plate back over the trench before he can drive his car up to the house.

Hope these ideas help.

 

[aczlan]

Second, I also use a security camera near the gate. Place it BEHIND the gate, where it can still be seen, but high enough up on a pole or tree so that someone would need a ladder to reach-it. (Not stand on a truck hood and steal it).
I did not have power at my gate, so I was required to get a camera that would email me a picture (via cell service) when it detects motion. You will get a lot of pictures of deer/etc, but you will also get pictures of anyone near your gate.
I went with this camera setup. It also is not cheap, but I was limited to available choices given my location and lack of power/etc at the property entrance. Mine is installed about 20 yards behind the gate up in a tree. You don't want to hide it. You want it to be seen as a detterent.
https://www.smartscouter.com/ssDefault.aspx
Once you install the camera, get a sign that states the property is under surveillance. I went with the biggest one I could find.
Property Protected by Video Surveillance Sign - No Trespassing, SKU: K-2257

I might also put something on the sign that said that the camera was remotely monitored or something so that they know that just taking down/out the camera wont get rid of the pictures... Otherwise someone might try a .22 caliber solution to your security camera from the ground...


Aaron Z

 

[greasemonkeyok]

You can purchase schedule 80 or 100 chain at a local industrial supply house, (they usually have the words "wire rope" in their name). Schedule 100 is as hard as the teeth on bolt cutters.

I prefer a Mul-T-Lock padlock because if you loan a key to someone, they can't go to the local hardware store and get it duplicated.

Both of these items are pricey, but not unreasonable.

 

[BeezFun]

I have not had to resort to this extreme, but my neighbor dug a 6 foot wide trench behind his gate with a center cement cross support. The trench is about 4 feet deep. When he is home a large piece of plate steel covers the trench so he can drive over it. When he leaves, he uses his tractor to slide it back off the trench. This creates a gap in his driveway that is impossible to cross with a vehicle. His driveway is setup so that this is the only way to advance up his property.

I love it, sounds like something out of Mad Max. I feel like going out and buying a piece of remote property so I can dig my own trench.

 

[BeezFun]

I don't know what they call them, but all the forest trail access points around here have a 6" square steel post about 2' high that hinges at the ground, and it's locked in the upright position by a lock that's inaccessible inside the steel post. You can fold it down when you need to get through. If you put that up in the middle of the gate access there'd be no way to get past it.

I'd also go the security camera route like others have mentioned but I'd get one large phony camera shell with a big sign warning people they're under surveillance, that's the one they'll disable or shoot out. Then use a bunch of these small web cams that you can get at radio shack and put them up the drive and around the house so they're not easily visible. If you have wireless already in the house you're most of the way done. Then you could monitor what's going on all the time and capture the live video for later use if you need it.

 

[bcp]

I can't tell from the photo, but if your gate is not in sight of the road, move it so it is. Then neighbors and passersby can see someone working on it.

Get the neighbors involved in watching out for each other. Their place may be next.

Bruce

 

[murphy1244]

Be home this weekend so you can reach out and touch someone.

 

[aczlan]

I can't tell from the photo, but if your gate is not in sight of the road, move it so it is. Then neighbors and passersby can see someone working on it.
Get the neighbors involved in watching out for each other. Their place may be next.

Ditto. I would pass around your cell number to the neighbors and mention that you had someone stealing stuff, so could they keep an eye out and call you/the cops if they see anything. They can pass the word around as well and that might help deter ner-do-wells.
When there, I would always keep the gate closed if the house cant be seen from the road (so that someone passing by cant say "gate is closed, they aren't home").

On the moat idea, $100 in plywood, 2x4s and glue would let you drive most any pickup over a 6' moat. For that matter, 4 8' pieces of 2x10 glued and screwed together into 2 planks (with a piece of plywood in the middle if you wanted to get fancy) would work for a 6' moat with a center support and would have plausible denyability (those planks are in my truck from when we loaded mike's lawnmower into my truck last week).

Aaron Z

 

[mikehaugen]

how about concealed spike strips, or use the trench idea but cover with thin plywood and dirt so they don't see it until too late. Maybe heat-seeking rockets?

The problem is that persistent thieves will get by just about anything, especially in remote areas where they have a lot of time. I used to live near an abandoned rock quarry that everyone used to like to go off-roading with trucks/ atvs/ dirtbikes... whatever. The owners were always trying to keep people out, but they lived out of state. One time I saw that they had placed large concrete blocks (like 3'x3'x6' long) at the entrances. About a week later people had piled dirt up to and around the blocks to simply drive over them. People are creative. Reminds me of "Fight Club" when they were stealing the fat and threw rugs over the barbed wire to be able to scale the fence quickly.

I think the only option here is to try to catch them after the fact... like cameras. If you make them visible, even fake ones, they will take measures to hide their identities (masks, taped license plates). If they think there is nothing to worry about, they won't. I would use concealed cameras and don't make it look like you have done anything to the property, that way you catch them off-guard. I like the idea of the photos being emailed to you, that way there is no way to get rid of the evidence if they find the cameras.

 

[mikehaugen]

(those planks are in my truck from when we loaded mike's lawnmower into my truck last week).Aaron Z

when were you loading my lawnmower last week?

 

[brin]

how about concealed spike strips

I agree with mike....all you would have to do is get a couple of 2X6 X however wide your road is and hammer some sharpened spikes up through them....then when you leave turn the spike side up across your road and camouflage them with pine straw , leaves or what ever is natural in your area...that will stop them...couple that with a remote infrared game cam and you will have them

 

[aczlan]

when were you loading my lawnmower last week?

Jim-Bob said that it wouldn't be a problem, we got it one night and brought it back the next...

Aaron Z

 

[Lou66]

A gate and lock keeps a honest man honest,, crap will away find away to steal anything of value.. put a camera up and let the police handle it,, if your wife is there my herself buy her a 357 it take better pictures than any camera.. Lou

 

[aczlan]

It might be interesting to put a couple of rocks to direct intruder's cars to one place, then use something like Amazon.com: Major Paintball M80TR Paint / Smoke Mine: Sports & Outdoors to mark their car/truck...
That plus a camera that sends pictures and you could tell the cops to look for a newer S10 with a pink splotch near the LF tire...

Aaron Z

 

[gcp]

All great ideas, please keep them coming.

1) The gate is right on a county HWY so no need to move it, it's as up front as it gets. Neighbors are few and far in between, don't know if these were hunters or locals that knew what was there.
2) The wife has a D&W 357 mag & a 12 gauge side by side and knows how to use them but that's a last resort. I’ve got to get her mind back at ease so she'd be willing to spend the night there, by herself, and be able to rest/sleep otherwise it's all for not! Obvious deterrents are important for that fact alone.
3) I am investigating game cams and video cams as we speak but there's no power at the entrance and it's probably 500-750 yards away from the house. The house is monitored by video 24/7 and the head unit's in the safe but I don't have fast internet up there so I use my cell phone when there and tether the laptop. I may have to get a telephone land line and run power up front to do this right.
4) Still need ideas on how to design and build a better gate. A triangular steel beam/post gate with steel posts 6ft into the ground, welded and cemented, will probably do this so no one can drive in while locked. But I'll do that later because right now I WANT them back so I can lay out my very special welcome rug!
4) I've used the Kryptonite products before on my motorcycles, indeed a great product but thank you for filling me in on the the GR80 and GR100 chains, I'll definately buy a couple of lengths which I can weave within the current gate and lock on either post to make the current gate much more effective. I'll also weld the hinges in place.....

 

[newbury]

Probably expensive and illegal, but it'll do the trick.

Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[gwiley]

Most states have laws against setting booby traps.

In remote areas (I live out in the woods) folks can pull down just about any gate using a chain and a truck so I wouldn't bother making it more sturdy. Like was already said, a gate and lock keeps an honest man honest.

In Virginia you need to post every 20 feet with no trespassing signs - we buy them in large rolls and tack them to trees.

Your best best is game cameras setup to catch license plates and faces.