Need Help Discouraging Strangers

Beat me to it Witch Doctor. I'll second that suggestion.

 

Catclaw Mimosa, not sure if it will grow where you are, I spray it to kill it, it is deadly.

 

Thoughts on how our place is set up.

Main House is the center of a spooked configuration of barns, shops, detached garage and in general a OPSEC to start with.

Distance from road is about 100 yards. Driveway covered by No Trespassing sign.

Driveway is the only access and is a semi curved set up that delivers any that have permission to a place that does not have an easy turn around. Of course if the panic they just might end up in the lake. Driveway gate is always closed during the day and locked at night.

Windows! I got lots of windows and I didn't want lots of curtains to cover those windows. I wanted light and visibility 360 degrees or at least 180 degrees to cover the road and shops. Windows with the right type of set up need not be covered, after all if they can't see in then you can't see out. Why would I not want to see out?. Windows with either reflective film or with the right type of screens are impossible to see into from the road, considering that you're not displaying your home for yard of the month. Windows of the right type allow me to see out side at night using only the fixed auto on yard light. This also allows me to move in the home at night without turning any lights on.

Shop is fairly large and is divided into 3 sections. A main section with double garage doors. One on either end, this gives me good ventilation and a secure design that means the main use door does not face the road. The other door faces a small parking area that has about 30 feet of sharps and sticky plant life for those who wish to scout the place from the road. Never open wide for long and all locked when not in use with proper dead bolt and anti jimmy cover plates.

On either side of the main shop is an over long two car garage on one end and the same on the other end but that end is only a covered shed roof, not visitable from the road. Each section is solid walled and not accessible from the other, just call it a type of water tight integrity.

The fourth side is my main out side work area with a covered roof and faces the center of the property but small portions can be seen from the road. Which also means I can the only personnel door from the house or most any place I am on the place if the shop is in view. Double locked and ant jimmy to stop the amateurs and to be aware if scum is around.

Pump house is double locked and door also faces the house, not the road.

So in a few seconds at night I can view and check the main points of security.

Fences, all legal and are 6x6 Field fence with barb wire top and bottom.

The point of fences to keep things in or out or both. Fences are not a Better Homes and Gardens deal. Fence lines should never be 100% cleared. I notice that one of the newbies has had a few problems of late that only occurred after they did a scorched earth clean up job. What this did was to remove all growth within 6 feet of the fence. For their animals this reduced any feel of the fence at night so just naturally they ran through the fence when spooked by something. Clear fence lines are OK if you you've got rolled barb wire or 24 hour surveillance. On top of that a calf disappeared one night. Now calves are easily rustled at night with just a noose around their neck and gently lead to a fence and then helped across. Was this the case? I don't know but I do know the calf is back and all is silent. Then again I did report suspicious vehicle and occupants the day before the loss.

So that's it for the most part and of course you do have to keep your goods covered and locked.

 

Auto light is first up. We had a late night visitor and didn't know who it was until we turned on the light. I realized that I needed to walk in front of the door (has a big window) to turn on the light. So that is number one. Then the elk just walked through and knocked down part of a box next to the driveway. I will be tearing the rest out and put thorny shrubs there. I won't go too thick of a shrub line because wildlife people say big cats and other wildlife can hide behind them. They said to make sure you can see thru them. We have had discussions on fencing but no plan yet.

 

My main reason about curtains and inside lights is, you have to show a indication that your are there or not. The movement of a curtain shows occupation, turning on a light is the same. Both show either occupant or not, either way you're giving free information to a possible perp.

A lot of the time it's what you don't do that provides information to a thief.

 

A sprinkler system, with an electric pump with petrol driven generator / portable pump backup would also be highly desirable in case of wildfire threat to retreats in the boondocks, and as property protection in the event of arson attack in urban and suburban areas should SHTF or some natural disaster ocurr when emergency response services may be deployed elsewhere.

 

That is pretty much what I did at my place in Colorado. Pretty much a underground sprinkler system on the roof of the cabin tied into the water line.

 

Living on the river we have had numerous occasions where a canoe load of people would pull up and start picnicking on the lawn...complete with fire to roast whatever. They become incredulous and insulted (sometimes insulting) when they are told to go. it's as if they have no concept that people can and do live away from the grid. I explain to them that they wouldn't like it if i went to their home in the suburbs and did the same thing. Most understand some do not. Fortunately I usually have my son sit on the porch with his shotgun and a cleaning rag. If he is unavailable and I feel some aggression coming on, I allow an accidental glimpse of my sidearm. I don't want to be unfriendly but neither do i want people to think i'm an easy mark. Most of these people are from the city and just can't get used to the idea of property rights (unless it's theirs). I've heard people argue that it isn't fair and that somehow I should make an exception for them because i 'own so much property'. Socialism is here and in ALL generations.....just my experience.

 

TRESPASSERS WILL BE VIOLATED!

 

@ExHelot exactly. People do seem to think once they get out of suburbia that all land is open space. Have you ever considered installing fencing, shrubbery or any of the other suggestions above?

 

Well I read a little over half the thread and the idea of signs with ANYTHING about anyone getting shot or hurt is DEADLY if anyone ever does get hurt! The jury will throw away the key, even if you did nothing wrong!

Get to know the local cops. Who knows, there might be one who is decent and honest. Stop laughing! That was NOT supposed to be a joke!! Otherwise call they all the time and make them come out and haul the scum away. Either they will make a point of keeping an eye on the place or you will be completely on your own. Either can work for the right person.

KNOW THE LAW! What can you legally do there? NEED signs? Legally shoot intruders (the idea about ONE story is right too! Just make sure the story matches anything they find if you need to). In Iowa you can legally carry anything you want on your own property openly. The cops will still attack you (friend was raided by SWAT Team until his lawyer threatened them with million dollar lawsuit and demanded a signed letter of apology and $2,000 payment OR ELSE!) because they have no idea of the Constitution (which they swear to up hold) OR the law.

Possibly plant thorn bushes around yard. Or steel posts every few feet right on the property line (no one wants to get their car beat up).

Put up night lights with infra-red early warning.

It doesn't have to be a big dog. Treeing fiest will make a mess of anyone it grabs.

 

Same thing different day. Yesterday the dog was going off and there were two standing on the stoop. It turned out to be some nice Jehovah's. Since I was outside fixing the fence, I kept the hammer in my hand. I felt better approaching them with something in my hands. I sent them on their way but they did leave me May's edition of their magazine which was titled- Is the End Near? I have only read to page 4 but it promises me I can survive the End.

 

@Motomom34 lol always good to know you can and will survive =)

 

Served with one Mormon.

 

I worked for them, for 3 years.

 

They make up there? Don't their bicycle tired freeze?

 

btpost is Mormon, and in Alaska....I would say his bike tires are safe enough....

 

lol i was teasing him =)