need ideas for protecting rural camp from intruders

[RonMar]

Although the wire and shotgun sounds satisfying, they are ultimatly very bad legally for the person who sets the booby trap with the intent of hurting someone. Now tripwires and noisemakers, non lethal of course, along the drive and out around the approaches, or a spike strip in the drive, might get them to thinking about what else they CAN't see as they get closer to your place. If it is something to give them a shock and cause them to pause, such as a blank shotgun round going off as they walk up to the door, their brain might kick in and their self preservation instinct might tell them that proceeding farther could be bad for their health.

Do you have cellphone coverage at the cabin? If so, you could probably put together a remote monitoring system activated by a motion detector or door switch to call your phone or cellphone. I used to work with a device called a sens-O-phone. It would monitor noise and temp and could take switch inputs. When the noise level or temp exceeded limits or a switch was activated, it would start dialing a programmed list untill someone was able to answer and push the right cancel code. It would tell you the temp, what switch inputs were active and allow you to listen to the microphone input to see what kind of noise was in the room where the mic was located. They were targeted at people who leave their home for long periods, such as someone avoiding the NY winter in Florida who dosn't want to come home to failed heating system and busted pipes/flooded basement. There is also a company called valcom that makes similar devices. All you would need to figure out is the cellphone interface and how to power it(Solar panel on roof, Battery in attic). I bet if you search around, someone has already got an answer for that also. This type system would allow you to monitor what is going on and to call the local sheriff or your neighbors up there to investigate. Very convincing when you are on the phone with the sheriff and you can say, "My alarm has a microphone and I can HEAR them inside my place Right Now" Next best thing to being there...

 

[hayden]

I've got a somewhat similar situation and put in an alarm and coupled it to a laptop and camera. The conventional alarm goes off if someone actually breaks in, including emailing me a notification. In addition, I have an outside silent alarm zone, and when it goes off the computer/camera start taking pictures. I also put stickers in the windows saying the place is under 24hr surveylance.

So far so good, adn it's useful to see when the guy shows up to cut the lawn, and when people are just poking around. If anyone vandalizes or breaks in, it will be difficult to no have them on candid camera.

I hacked this whole thing together myself, but I'm a geek at heart.

I don't have commmercial power or phone either, but do have solar and installed satelite internet to send me emails and pictures.

It can definitely be done - it just depends on how far you want to take it.

 

[1bush2hog]

I don't have commmercial power or phone either, but do have solar and installed satelite internet to send me emails and pictures.

Hayden -

Would you mind elaborating on the details of your system, including cost?

Thanks

 

[ByronBob]

If you kept the place unlocked do you think they'd trash the place more or less than if it were locked?

I'm thinking from the standpoint that anyone there is either going to trash stuff whether it's locked or not. Others might just look around and leave...

 

[Dhill]

My home is situated nearly out of sight of the main access road to my property. The place is fenced, and I have an electric gate opener on the gate. The fence and closed gates are the deterrents to entering my property. I never lock my house. It would do no good to lock it. If someone wanted in, they could break in unseen. I'd rather them not tear up the place if they're going in. I rely on my neighbors somewhat. They live on the road; anyone who drives it becomes visible to them, and since this is a rural area, there isn't much traffic. They would notice any unusual traffic. Neighbors helping neighbors is the best method I know for security.

 

[knute_m]

I still own a remote getaway, but it is a lot less vulnerable than when I bought it -- mostly because of two really good neighbors who weren't there until recently.

My property extends on both sides of a dead end dirt road. Whenever I went from one side to the other, I had my baseball bat or my 12-guage, and was known by people who didn't know me well, as "that crazy guy - don't mess with him!" (The people who know me probably say the same.) I'd stop cars if they were speeding, or if I knew they didn't live on the road beyond me.

One of the first things I did was buy a number of inexpensive "dummy" video cameras. The cameras use C-cell batteries to operate rather bright LEDs that flash a couple of times per second. They were about $7-8 each on ebay. I also found some surplus solar panels. Using outdoor electrical boxes, and brazing rods for antennas, I made what looked like wireless remote video cameras. I mounted all the components on about 12 x 18 inch plywood panels that I painted high gloss white. At the top of each, I hand stenciled 3-inch high letters (in black) "CAMERA 9," "Camera 14," etc. I mounted the panels about 10-12 feet high in trees and poles near the end of my driveway and on the outside of the house and outbuildings.

When I first put them up, I noticed that the neighborhood teens slowed way down when they drove past my driveway.

I also bought two of the 35mm game cameras that Wal-Mart and Cabelas sell for about $49. I put them in very inconspicuous places at the edge of the road, with the flashes turned off. They took pictures of the neighborhood dogs, the kids, cars going by, and deer. Many of the pictures really turned out good. I showed the the best ones to the neighborhood kids and other neighbors and told them they were prints from the video system.

I did also put in a real video system. The 4-camera system was about $150 on ebay. The 14-day video recorder was about $200 at Costco. All the cameras are very well hidden, as is the recorder.

And, I put in a battery operated security system that dials me if it is tripped (we have electric and telephone at this place). It has a microphone inside the house that lets me listen to whatever is happening. In five years it has only falsed one time. A sheriff's deputy did me a favor and checked the place out. It was just a dead battery in one of the sensors.

 

[turnkey4099]

On locking things up. Back in the 60s or 70s Popular Mechkanics (IIRC) set out to build a vandal proof get-away. They called it the "Lockbox". Very secure. When they returned the next spring it was totally vandalized. No, you cannot build something that is impregnable.

Scaring them off with lights and alarms plus cameras for evidence collection is probably the most effective. For a site with no power, the alarm might use one of those compressed air sirens some people carry.

Harry K

 

[mjarrels]

Post some signs that say "U. S. Goverment Property - Active Firing Range"

mark

 

[RobJ]

How about some claymore mines, some big and underfed guard dogs and of course a moat with aligators in it.

Derek

Since we are coming up with some neat ideas, I would suggest the UA 571-C Remote Sentry. Hey it worked in Aliens and has a nice easy touch screen. Personally I'd go with the "semihard" target profile.

 

[shepherd]

i always heard that the sound of a shotgun magazine sliding into place was more frighting then a real blast so get a recording of that and get one of the motion detected lights wire it to a tree and if something moves into line of it then lights turn on and the recording plays