Rural Security: Entrances, Gates and Locks

[TnAndy]

Security is an illusion. Your goal is to creat the illusion that your place is secure, and delay an intruder to the point where they will chose another location over yours.

Exactly right !

Anyone with a cordless side grinder and a 4-5" cutting wheel on it can remove the chain or the gate hinges for that matter.....you're simply not going to stop someone really determined to get in with a simple gate.

Your wife leaving the gate un-locked is probably more of a sign someone is home, and thus more of a deterrent to crooks than a locked gate (indicating you locked it as you left). Most crooks do not want a personal confrontation.....they want to grab what they can and go. The ones that don't care if you're home are going to get in anyway (as stated above), and there ain't jack you can do about it, except try to meet with overwhelming force....and those instances would be exceedingly rare.

To me, a gate (and we have about the same situation as you....1500' drive, can't see the house from the gate, end of a small county road) is to deter: (exactly in this order)

1. "tourists".....those who simply want to see what's up that driveway.
2. Sales people ("wanna buy some meat out of my freezer in the bed of the truck ?")
3. Tax assessors
4. Crooks

We used a simple farm gate for years, but I later built these rock columns and welded up the gates.

Some time later, added a linear actuator type opener (light weight pieces of crap IMHO), then finally a good semi-commercial arm type. We simply got tired of having to get out and open/close the gate in various kinds of weather....same reason folks put door openers on garage doors.....there's more to do in life than open fool gates/doors. Our gate is on the same door opener as the house main garage door.

The gate also has no locking method other than being connected to the opener arms...and that can be removed with a simple pin deal if you get out and examine it. (no one ever has)

I also have several points along the drive monitored by driveway alarms (Dakota Alert) for the occasions we do leave the gate open (expected UPS deliver, friends coming over, etc).

As for your 1600' drive, I ran 2 #6 for hot, and 1 #6 for neutral in shallow buried conduit (pull box every 200') and power mine with AC. Today, there are good solar options. If local vandals are a problem, put up a cheapy fake CCTV camera and that will deter them. I also wired a motion flood light at the gate that comes on any time someone comes up to the gate.....the neighbors all think I have camera in it, and I do nothing to discourage that line of thinking (it does not). Also doesn't hurt to be well known in the area as a firearms enthusiast.....like burn a clip thru the AR from time to time.

We've been here 37 years now, and never had a trespass issue except when the gate was left wide open.

 

[TheMan419]

After 7 or 8 years I hope OP has already made a security decision.....

 

[Oaktree]

To me, a gate (and we have about the same situation as you....1500' drive, can't see the house from the gate, end of a small county road) is to deter: (exactly in this order)

1. "tourists".....those who simply want to see what's up that driveway.
2. Sales people ("wanna buy some meat out of my freezer in the bed of the truck ?")
3. Tax assessors
4. Crooks

Maybe it's just a regional culture thing, but I guess I don't understand the apparent paranoia some have about unannounced visitors.
Pretty obvious that your driveway is just that, do you really get that many "tourists" or are you just antisocial? I don't see it as that big a deal, and I certainly don't consider someone walking/driving up my driveway without an engraved invitation to be "trespassing" in the first place.
As far as the tax assessor (or others just doing their job, like the meter reader for the electric company), wouldn't you like their records to be accurate, or would you rather they make something up?
Door to door sales people (or religious groups) aren't common enough here to make a fuss over. A simple "sorry, not interested" usually suffices.

 

[TnAndy]

Funny story (or at least I thought so) about alarm companies.

I did remodeling and replacement windows for many years. Was doing a set for a guy that had an alarm system in his home, (after a previous burglary) used Pony Express as the company. Lunch time came, I left to get a burger, came back and found him gone too.

Not knowing how long he'd be gone, I simply removed a window from the outside (I can remove most windows about as fast a you can get your keys out and unlock your door), hopped inside and went to unlock the front door so I could keep on working. Set the alarm off, of course (motion detector in the hall apparently), and the fool alarm screamed for about 10 minutes. Not a neighbor ever even noticed.

Guy returned about the time the alarm stopped, I told him what happened, he said "No problem, the alarm company will be out to check, I'll handle it".

So about 2pm, I asked "Alarm company ever show ?"

He kinda made a face "No"

I finished up couple hours later and asked again.

"NO" a bit more angry this time.....since he was paying for that 'service'.

I replied "Well, maybe their pony died"......

He failed to appreciate the humor........

 

[TnAndy]

Maybe it's just a regional culture thing, but I guess I don't understand the apparent paranoia some have about unannounced visitors.
Pretty obvious that your driveway is just that, do you really get that many "tourists" or are you just antisocial? I don't see it as that big a deal, and I certainly don't consider someone walking/driving up my driveway without an engraved invitation to be "trespassing" in the first place.

Society tends to make me anti-social.

Some of those some of those 'tourists' are simply crooks casing the place, looking to steal whatever is bolted down....looking into their dialated pupils tells me they aren't simply 'tourists'.

The rest aren't "visitors".....they are uninvited people that can't respect a sign as they drive past it, and hence, people I'm not interested in having on my place. Please post your address and welcome that type of person to your house if you wish.

As far as the tax assessor (or others just doing their job, like the meter reader for the electric company), wouldn't you like their records to be accurate, or would you rather they make something up?

The electric company has the gate keypad code, though now they use a wireless system to read the meters from the office and don't go door-to-door anymore. We have no other meters. I'm not interested in helping out govt weenies so they can tax me for adding a deck to my house or a new chicken lot.

The last GROUP (took 3 of them...why is that ?) that walked around the gate and up the driveway was the Census bunch....so they could GPS my front door. WHAT, pray tell, does the govt need with that info ? (hint: Ask the Japanese population of the West Coast how their folks ended up in concentration camps in WW2). I sent the census form in, with the Constitutionally required information to be used to determine representation in Congress: 2 residents. But NO....they want to hound you to know all kinds of info that is simply none of their business.

Door to door sales people (or religious groups) aren't common enough here to make a fuss over. A simple "sorry, not interested" usually suffices.

I simply don't like having to repeat "not interested" to the Jehova's Witnesses, the other Bible thumpers trying to save me from myself, the encyclopedia sales persons (though the internet has at least done away with them), the meat salesmen, who this week have a freezer in their truck, and next week go back to thieving with it when they figure out that meat sales is a losing deal, the hunters that want to hunt your land, and so on and so on. A gate stops most of that.

 

[AlbertC]

Since both of you agree to not get an automatic opener then, like others have said, have your wife pick out the lock that she thinks would work. Of course, it has to be functional for your gate and all but it gives her the decision. You mentioned that you want something to keep folks out and that is more inconspicuous than some fancy gate locks and openings. I can understand your point. If your opening only looks like a typical ag gate going to a pasture or such then most folks won't give it a second look. I've, as well as others, have posted some gate latches on here before. Below are what we have on ours. Bear in mind our gate is always locked. We're not unsocialable just like our pricacy. Our neighbors know and have our phone numbers. Also, the fencing at our enty is barbed wire and T-posts so if someone (like fire and rescue) really wants in then wire cutters will do it. I like what Eddie and others said mentioning that it's all only SO secure. BTW, we used to have 5 gate openers and they all grew up and moved out!:laughing:

Hey Jay

That's pretty slick. Did you make that latch or can you buy those latches somewhere?

Thanks

 

[Industrial Toys]

I tell the "Freezer in the back of the Nissan" guy that I am a Vegetarian.

I just got my light working again out at the end of my lane, after many years. A light out in the middle of the country may just be an invitation to those that are not welcome. I thought about turning it off, maybe at midnight, but I like it on if I come home really late.

And to me, a closed gate, probably means something worthwhile investigating.

I have a friend in the glass business. He too can get into almost anywhere.

 

[mapper]

Around here the sheriff's office does not respond to alarm companies notifications, (too many false alarms and too busy with 911 calls). A few years ago one of our neighbors with an ADT system alarm went off, we had the pleasure of listening to the siren on the thing for about 2 hours before someone came around and shut it off. They also called us to go over and see if there was anything obviously wrong!

 

[Industrial Toys]

Any security system I know of since the 80s have siren timers. Usually set for ten minute or so. And then "swinger shutdown" which will only allow a retrigger so many times. That's some crappy system your neighbors have.

I have never sold a monitored system saying that there would be rapid Police response, if any at all. Just a way of someone being notified that something has happened. Besides, Insurance companies won't give a discount if it's not monitored. I won't even monitor FIRE signals, on account of ridicuous cost recovery programs initiated by some jurisdictions. Like, $500.00 per vehicle, and several arrive, AND you can't even call them to cancel a false alarm. It's the Insurance companies who stand to gain with monitored fire systems, let them pay the fines!

 

[dalola]

I know nothing is really 100% fool-proof, but our two big German Shepherds (professionally trained) are quite effective.

People who don't belong take one look & keep on going.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Con men and other slick criminals can't sweet talk a Shepard or Doberman!

 

[mckinney]

That will get you 36 seconds with a cordless angle grinder (~18 seconds per cut):

Aaron Z

I think it would take quite a lot longer to cut through the chain if it wasn't secured in a vise. Much tougher without resistance and with the chain moving around. And if property inside the gates is also secured, the thief will be doing a lot of grinding and making a lot of noise.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Most automatic gates are not padlocked. If I were a criminal, I would just slowly back a stolen car into the gate, mangling the actuators.

Or, if I wasn't feeling so lazy, take a cordless impact and remove the bolts from the actuator end. But that may take five minutes.

 

[aczlan]

I think it would take quite a lot longer to cut through the chain if it wasn't secured in a vise. Much tougher without resistance and with the chain moving around. And if property inside the gates is also secured, the thief will be doing a lot of grinding and making a lot of noise.

If its on a gate, you just push the gate until the chain is tight. That will provide all of the resistance that you need for an angle grinder (or just cut through the gate/fastener if its weaker than the chain).

Aaron Z

 

[Industrial Toys]

If I was on that side of the fence, it would actually be quite fun to compromise peoples security illusions.

It always amazed me, how I could walk into a place past reception, without being questioned wearing a tool belt or telephone butt set. Even today, I am often in places that require signing in and a visitor badge or escort, yet I have never been challenged, and rarely follow protocall.

 

[TnAndy]

If I was on that side of the fence, it would actually be quite fun to compromise peoples security illusions.

It always amazed me, how I could walk into a place past reception, without being questioned wearing a tool belt or telephone butt set. Even today, I am often in places that require signing in and a visitor badge or escort, yet I have never been challenged, and rarely follow protocall.

Yeah....like the average house usually has several different ways in before getting destructive, which opens up a nearly unlimited number of ways.

When we lived in town, gal down the street showed up one morning in house robe/slippers, wanting to call a locksmith (pre-cell phone days) because the door locked behind her when she went out to get the morning paper. I said, "well I can let you in save you a locksmith call", so I picked up a few hand tools and we went back to her house.

Garage door was a wood roll-up of that era, lock was locked, but the only thing keeping you from rotating it was the two wood screws holding it to the door. I simply removed them, rotated the locked lockset, rolled the door up and let her in the garage. Fortunately, the door from the house to the garage wasn't locked and she was back in.

Year or so later, she shows up again. As we approach the garage door, she says "Oh....husband fixed that with two screwdrivers in the track that have to be removed inside before the door will raise".

OK....I walk around the house, looking at the big double hung windows with a simple cam lock (easy to force apart, but might damage the wood), when I see the sliding glass door on the back. She says "Nope....can't get in that way....see the broomstick inside (against the sliding panel). I examine the door, see they never put the retainer clips on the fixed panel, so I simply bump my palms on it, sliding it in front of the rolling panel, and tell her "Don't trip over the fool broomstick on the way in....and you might quit locking the door behind you when going for the paper...ya ain't fooling nobody but kids...."

Last time she ever showed up at our house again.

 

[kenmac]

I have the gated drive with mighty mule openers. One could take a vehicle, tractor,etc, and crash through the gates if they are that determined to get to my home.
If someone happens to make it to the house after crashing the gates.If I happen to be home (which I am most of the time) it ain't going to turn out well for those that crashed the gates

 

[Industrial Toys]

Mighty Mule, meet the Ram (Power Wagon).

 

[John Fitzgerald]

If I was on that side of the fence, it would actually be quite fun to compromise peoples security illusions.

It always amazed me, how I could walk into a place past reception, without being questioned wearing a tool belt or telephone butt set. Even today, I am often in places that require signing in and a visitor badge or escort, yet I have never been challenged, and rarely follow protocall.

Hard hat, clipboard, blue shirt, khaki pants, boots. Go into most any backyard unchallenged.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I had a friend that I was helping out with some security.. They owned a commercial building in a small town. He had a gun store downstairs, rented retail on the main floor and apartments including theirs on the second floor. She always treated me nice, but one day, I got locked out of the door from the street leading to the stairwell, so I just let myself in using a Big Olfa Knife. Not damaging anything. She asked how I got in and when I told her, she totally freaked out on me. It was the last time I went there. I think I shattered her illusion of security.