Urgent, need security help

[sld]

If you really think your wife is going to stay there by herself, a good dog is in order.

That will be all the early warning she will need.

I feel for you. Thieves are the scum of the earth. You never know how far they will go to take stuff so assume the worst.

 

[newbury]

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

Since I also own in Virgina do you have a reference for that? The law I read

ｧ 18.2-134.1. Method of posting lands.

A. The owner or lessee of property described in ｧ 18.2-134 may post property by (i) placing signs prohibiting hunting, fishing or trapping where they may reasonably be seen; or (ii) placing identifying paint marks on trees or posts at each road entrance and adjacent to public roadways and public waterways adjoining the property. Each paint mark shall be a vertical line of at least two inches in width and at least eight inches in length and the center of the mark shall be no less than three feet nor more than six feet from the ground or normal water surface. Such paint marks shall be readily visible to any person approaching the property.

B. The type and color of the paint to be used for posting shall be prescribed by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

(1987, c. 603.)

only says they need to be seen from each other.

In Misissippi land is private

By law, all land in Mississippi is posted against trespassing, signage or not.

Poacher proof your property for the upcoming season - Mississippi Sportsman

 

[gwiley]

Since I also own in Virgina do you have a reference for that? The law I read only says they need to be seen from each other.

In Misissippi land is private
Poacher proof your property for the upcoming season - Mississippi Sportsman

I don't have a quote for the 20' rule - was told that by my brother who is a home builder. I know that in the heavily wooded properties I own in central Va even 20' might not keep them visible to each other

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

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.

This works for me !

 

[tkappeler]

How about retractable bollards? This one is manually operated. No key needed to raise it but a key required to put it back down. No power needed.

Powder Coated Stainless Steel Top Retractable Bollard

 

[forgeblast]

Burglar Bomb Anti Burglary Pepper Spray Systems, protect your ...burglarbomb.com/

Burglar Bomb stops burglars in seconds, protecting your property in the crucial minutes prior to police arrival. No alarm system can do this for you.
We were thinking about getting these for our barn after our neighbor was broken into again.

 

[Kyle241]

I agree that if your wife is alone and concerned a good dog is all you need in that scenario. Nobody has come onto our property as we have 'Beware of Dog' signs and being far enough off the road, they don't know when we are and are not there. Unfortunately in your case, it's likely somebody that knows you or knows someone who knows you and that you are away during the week. This is typically the criminals in this type of case. For being away during the week, we used to place a large couple of stones (400lbs+) in the middle of the drive to prevent vehicles from coming up the laneway as most criminals are lazy and won't walk the 1000ft to the house plus they won't want to lug their 'goods' that far. We would remove these with the tractor when we arrived.

 

[BeezFun]

Burglar Bomb Anti Burglary Pepper Spray Systems, protect your ...burglarbomb.com/

I'm going to install one of these and test it on the inlaws when they come for Christmas

 

[gcp]

More good ideas, thank you!

Kyle, the dog can't stay by itself all week, unlike our beloved barn cat who does well alone because he is quite the hunter (we have a month’s worth of food/water for him also). I only wish he was 200+ pounds and I'd have no theft problems, to be sure
I've thought of getting a couple of the 6 foot HWY dividers delivered but that would require me moving them with the front end loader each and every time we arrive and depart a real PITA because I'll have to walk 1K yards after the fact or leave my IH in the elements, non of which I relish…..plus my wife would not be able to do this. I am coming up with some gate fabrication ideas and swinging spiked barriers which can be easily put in place upon our arrival/departure, even by my wife alone.

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Sell the place to someone who will work the property , it's almost sad to read your post !

 

[Tororider]

Check some solar options. Lights at the gate would be a priority for me. Harbor freight has 36 led solar security lights with coupon for $18. Good luck.

 

[Stihlrunner]

I doubt any kind of gate is going to deter thieves that have the property to themselves. Have you considered allowing a caretaker to live there?

 

[zzvyb6]

12v car battery powered. 9v sensors. Range 2000+ feet. Self contained. Could be solar charged. Day and night operation. Receivers have relays that fire the signal flasher and bell. Tone sounds in the house and on my golf car with a rotating beacon triggered.

July 21, 2011.wmv - YouTube

Then I would put a gate right out at the main road that's the most secure with a ditch and stone pillars with wings. This means that to work on the gate, they would be visible at the entrance. Then a secondary gate and even a third. You need to ditch the entrance to keep them from driving around the gate posts. Cut some of the trees down to tell them you are better prepared for them now. Visit the place more often, at night and during the week for a while. Game cameras, yes, but no fake ones. Fake ones don't have working nightime illuminators. So anybody on a scout mission can tell whether they are live or not. Put them in bird houses.

And presume they will still come around. For all you know, they could be your neighbors. On a moonlite night, do a dry run at scouting your own place. You'll be astounded at how vulnerable your place is. Put posters up in town advertising for information. Don't bother with "leading to a conviction" nonsense. You want an address and maybe a few names. Don't bother with the Law. Its the ADDRESS you want. Careless smoking is still a common terrible accident.

 

[gcp]

Grumpy, I AM NOT SELLING! I don't cut and run and you telling me to sell to someone else, for whatever reason, is not germane to the situation, nor is it helpful to my pissed off attitude.

Tororider, I had two HF lights on the gate posts, they took one.

Stihlrunner, I have but there's a price to be paid with that as well, it's called privacy. These 60 acres is our slice of weekend paradise.

ZZ, I like the way you think!

I'll find a way to stop them. It may take some doing....

 

[forgeblast]

On a moonlite night, do a dry run at scouting your own place. You'll be astounded at how vulnerable your place is.

Really true! My buddy took a shot with the bow but the arrow was deflected so we went looking for the deer (found two little drops of blood I think he scratched him when the arrow deflected off the branch). It was a full moon and walking around our property I could see some areas of concern. It was pretty eye opening.

 

[gcp]

forgeblast, I realize the vulnerabilities of living in the country. I've taken many moonlit walks, for various reasons , and I know there's no practical way to stop a determined group of criminals without applying extreme physical force but I feel that if I make it difficult enough they'll go to easier pickings. It was my fault for not having the trailer locked, I got complaisant and that won't happen again.

 

[BeezFun]

Might try posting some reward for information signs in town, if there's a town. Long time locals usually know who the thieves are.

 

[Lloyd_E]

The lumber/forest companies up here mount a swinging 8"+ diameter thick pipe to a vertical support with another pipe going from horizontal pipe to post at an angle for support. This gate locks into another post via a locked pin. The pad lock in up inside a steel box(bottom open) you reach inside, unlock, remove lock and pull pin. The gate opens. The lock box is made from 1/2" plate and the pin is usually 1.5"+. I am no expert but I think the only way to get in with this set-up is to use oxy/acet torch. It is massive and the pipes are buried into a large and probably very deep concrete block on both points of ground contact.

Can you get a remote sensor that will turn on lights, radio(and or recording of a loud barking dog with random pattern) - in the house and barn/workshop before the idiots get there. This might slow them down. I would post as much as possible and use as much remote sensing units as you can afford. If it is a continual problem you may find your insurance rates going up... would try to put the money up front into protection.

I would also invite friends/relatives to use the place more often when you are not there and set up a random pattern of visitation. This will keep the idiots guessing...

Feel for ya - good luck.

 

[Kyle241]

More good ideas, thank you!

Kyle, the dog can't stay by itself all week, unlike our beloved barn cat who does well alone because he is quite the hunter (we have a month痴 worth of food/water for him also). I only wish he was 200+ pounds and I'd have no theft problems, to be sure
I've thought of getting a couple of the 6 foot HWY dividers delivered but that would require me moving them with the front end loader each and every time we arrive and depart a real PITA because I'll have to walk 1K yards after the fact or leave my IH in the elements, non of which I relish?.plus my wife would not be able to do this. I am coming up with some gate fabrication ideas and swinging spiked barriers which can be easily put in place upon our arrival/departure, even by my wife alone.

A 200lb cat, now that is an idea! Perhaps a pet cougar to prowl your grounds? Hope you can find a solution as this was a big concern for me several years ago and I agree moving cement dividers would be a PITA everytime but they would keep vehicles out.

 

[1bush2hog]

Maybe you can get the power company to install one of their outdoor security lights and posts at your gate/entrance? You could then have power and a place to hang a camera as well.