Time to secure

Our little town of 1900 has been the scene of some opportunistic thefts and robberies recently. Mostly stupid people leaving garage doors open and lawnmowers laying around, although they have been doing that since 1856, it's just become a problem lately.

I am removed from the town by 1/4 mile or more of dirt road that goes through a pasture, bordered by barbed wire. Anyone who comes to my house can be seen from way off, and the rest of the town just about can see when anyone comes up here on top the hill. We have two dogs, one a corgi that just goes ballistic when he hears things outside. The other is a dumb old Lab mix, but she will follow the corgi closely like, "It looks dangerous, you better go first." They are good alarms.

I have weapons in different areas, as we have two acres. Everything from squirrel shot for invading squirrels to 00 buck to 9mm to .357 Magnum. I would not hesitate to put a warning shot near anyone on the property and not coming up the road. Except for the water and power people, that is, and around here, Mormon missionaries. But they all come up the road, and not over the back fence.

I want to get a security system. Mainly loud alarms that will sound if anyone opens a gate or door, and a light that will then come on. I have looked at x10.com and they have a large selection. Not sure if I want the whole enchilada with cameras and all, but may do it, as they are cheap and recorders are dirt cheap and can be set up to only run when activated.

What measures do you guys take? I really think the loud sirens and lights would be the cheapest best way to go. I'd have to hook them to gates and doors and such, as we have a lot of critters running around here all the time.

I have also started putting up stuff more than before and now all six trailers have ball locks on them. I know there's only so much you can do, but I think I can do a little more.

Steve

Reply to
SteveB
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Shoot a couple trespassers and that will stop the problem. In most small communities a jury is selected from your neighbors. Are you considered a good neighbor by your peers in the community oar a JERK? If your neighbors consider you a JERK ignore my previous advice.

GL2

Reply to
TwoGuns

TwoGuns fired this volley in news:3be11370- snipped-for-privacy@26g2000yqk.googlegroups.com:

Really? They had garages and lawn mowers in 1856?

LLoyd

Reply to
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

Suggest looking at higher end stuff than X10 as it has reliability issues. Also suggest shooting the mormons, but that's just me...

Reply to
Pete C.

Your guns won't do a damn thing when you're not around except to enrich the thieves.

Unless your neighbors can hear it and will come running, and alarm won't alarm the thieves. A setup that will call the cops will do good if your local cops actually respond in a timely manner (response times in this corner of the world are slow as molasses if it's just a property crime, although the sheriff's department will get het up if there's guns being waved around or people being beat up).

A fence that's hard to get through, and dogs that look like they're going to bite anything that _does_ get through, is probably the best protection that you can have. Were I concerned about this I'd put up chain-link fence with a nice big gate, and leave the gate standing open when I'm around so the neighbors know they're welcome. Put a dog behind that and you're as set as you'll ever be.

Reply to
Tim Wescott

I've gone through my X10 phase. I'll ship you a box of it ;)

Actually, they have some nice motion-sensor lights that will each turn on up to 4 more X10 devices. So, your driveway light can turn on all the other outdoor lights, and ring a chime in your bedroom. It can also dial your cellphone, start the coffeepot, and arm the minefield.

Mine lasted quite a while. I need to replace them, but I just hate that popup-laden, spamming X10 website.

For a convention burglar alarm for the shop, I have used the Radio Shack

4-zone low-end box and wired sensors. Works fine.
Reply to
RBnDFW

Sure, Machinery sheds and Goats!!!

Reply to
Steve W.

I use a simple system. First line is a chain link fence. 6' high (local fence outfit ordered a LOT of it for a guy who then backed out of the deal) I added privacy strips myself. It has a pair of electrified strips on top. (standard stock fencer connected to a marine battery and charger, picked up at an auction for 5 bucks, just needed new wires)

Inside of that at each corner are motion (and switch from inside the house) activated lights with 500 watt floods attached.

Sitting behind each camera are small cameras. They connect to an old computer in the shop. It runs a simple image capture loop program. When tripped by the motion detectors it starts taking images every 5 seconds from each camera in rotation. These files get overwritten unless something happens and I pull the relevant file. With the cheap hard drives and old computer box I may have 500 bucks in all the cameras and hardware.

Inside the shop itself are cameras for each door. Those connect to a different computer and start recording if the door is opened. The shop lights also turn on if it's dark when the door opens. (photo sensor from an automatic light)

Reply to
Steve W.

I agree you shouldn't shoot the meter readers.....

>
Reply to
ATP*

They've been around quite a long time now, like since about 1830.

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. Does beg the question, when was the first one nicked (in the theft sense, rather than dinging the blade).

Reply to
David Billington

David Billington fired this volley in news:4a898b59$0$2537$ snipped-for-privacy@news.zen.co.uk:

Hmmmm... the I guess the garages were _for_ the mowers, since a "two-man car" might not be all that practical!

LLoyd

Reply to
Lloyd E. Sponenburgh

I think he meant barns and goats????

Roger

Reply to
Roger Paskell

Pretty good advice, all things considered. I can provide some info on actual alarms if needed.

Gunner, who managed a licensed alarm company for 17 yrs.

'In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.' Theodore Ro osevelt 1907

Reply to
Gunner Asch

They are hidden from view. The rest are in the safe.

My next door neighbor (1,000 feet away) busted a coyote last night late that was trying to get one of his goats. When he touched off the shotgun, an ATV at the bottom of the hill started and rapidly took off. Yes, my neighbors can, do, and have come running. There is just pasture, so an alarm could be heard from a great distance, and my ranch can be seen by most of the town. Lights, blinking or revolving lights, or sirens would not go unheeded. I live in a little town that looks like it is stuck in the 1890's. I learned a long time ago that when calling for assistance, it is good to mention that a gun was SEEN, even if none ever shows up. .

Nice idea if I can find that much chain link for a good price. But I'm hooked up with scroungers around here, and we have AM Tradio program each weekday morning that goes out to a lot of rural people. As for dogs, mine bite, but only me.

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

"Gunner Asch" wrote

Yes, please. I'd like to hear your ideas and knowledge.

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

Steve, I think that a couple of suitable dogs, some cameras, and a gun on your hip should cover most scenarios very well and it would not be too expensive.

If your neighbors are understanding, you may also post a sign like this:

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Reply to
Ignoramus3776

805-732-5308 any time. Its my cell

Gunner

'In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.' Theodore Ro osevelt 1907

Reply to
Gunner Asch

I like "NO WARNING SHOTS PAST THIS POINT"

Reply to
SteveB

"No trespassing. Violators will be shot, survivors will be shot again."

Whenever a Liberal utters the term "Common Sense approach"....grab your wallet, your ass, and your guns because the sombitch is about to do something damned nasty to all three of them.

Reply to
Gunner Asch

TRESPASSERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THEIR FUNERALS

Reply to
Ignoramus3776

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