Deterring would be Intruders

the_cat

jaqui59 wrote: »

The garden had a ton of bramble in it at the bottom, but it was so unsightly we cut it all down, and we are going to replace it with a hedge that we will let grow to 6ft.
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Pyracantha makes a lovely evergreen hedge with pretty flowers and berries at different times of the year. Even better it has excrutiatingly long evil thorns!!!:D

pinetree

Geese, very noisy!

lostinrates

We live rurally and have had several intruders.

The single most effective deterrant is my dogs, They are huge, loud and one is known locally as a biter. I was very worried about this and spoke to my local police who were very encouaraging that so long as she did not bite someone who was mot an intruder we would be fine and told me to oay no heed to alarmist stories. They also made a note to be aware when they are called.


If you live rurally have youtpr map grid ref to give to the blues and twos should you call 999. Somewhere on the right coming from the village on the unnamed road is not terribly helpful to them.

Security lights. Not one or two but a raft of them. Ours are on a delay, so one goes on brightly, then after a set time They all do.

Fake cctv has not beena deterrant here, but the real stuff is going in very soon.

Be secure. Do not leave doors to garages/tool sheds open.

Mo you neighbours. Evenif they are a mile or few away, they drive past....if they know your cars and your faces from local events they also have an idea who should not be there.

Join local watches. We are part of farm watch and horse watch.


Be consistant. If you normally close a road side gate in the evening have someone close it for you if you cannot be there. But also be inconsistant....time lights to look like you might be upstairs when you are not in.

Sambucus_Nigra

the_cat wrote: »

Pyracantha makes a lovely evergreen hedge with pretty flowers and berries at different times of the year. Even better it has excrutiatingly long evil thorns!!!:D

May as well grow something and get some use out of it - I recommend Blackthorn which of course you get sloes from for your yearly sloe gin.

I'd also let those brambles grow back this year - they don't take long to grow back - you could also put up some fence posts and wires and train the brambles along it just to make it extra harder to get through - whilst your thorny blackthorns are getting established.

joess

We have this on the back of the house http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320825011758#ht_1076wt_855 we do have a proper alarm and box is on front but most intruders break in back of houses not front.

I also have these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110637166576#ht_902wt_825 apparently you are not meant to use them but if someone wants to grab my 6 foot fence for noreason whatsoever then I'm going to spike them!

Also I was advised by the police not to have CCTV camera (I've was burgled about 5 years ago) as it 'ups the anti' the thief will look for where you're recording to and potential ransack your house more....

Gingernutty

This is from the Daily Mail...........

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2107511/The-home-guard-Police-suggest-30-thorny-bushes-homeowners-plant-discourage-lazy-garden-thieves.html

I live in a tough area and security is vital. Never leave a window unlocked, don't place anything within sight of the front door, and lights - have them on timers if necessary.

lostinrates

joess wrote: »

Also I was advised by the police not to have CCTV camera (I've was burgled about 5 years ago) as it 'ups the anti' the thief will look for where you're recording to and potential ransack your house more....

where as our force are keen for us to get them. I guess it depends on location...as in whether overlooked or not, and possibly what the house looks like?

We live in a Wreck, but it looks quite expensive, like it would be full of good stuff...sadly it is not!

We are having a system of seven to nine camaras, on different wiring systems. Whatever happens a shot of them will be got even if cables are cut or whatever.


The other thing to consider is that sadly, some rural theives come prepared for dogs. My local farm watch coordinator warned me recently about crossbows being used on dogs. :eek::(. Tbh, people can have my ancient tv if they leave me my dog, but i would rather they just didn't get in in the first place...

And if they do, i want them caught and prosecuted.

londonsurrey

I love the idea of geese as guards. Apparently alpacas are good too. They're on my list of "all those intriguing ideas to try" when I win the lottery.

lostinrates

londonsurrey wrote: »

I love the idea of geese as guards. Apparently alpacas are good too. They're on my list of "all those intriguing ideas to try" when I win the lottery.

My geese are a good noisy deterrant, but not much good as an alert, they honk at anything and everything, and if i went every time they honked i would be outside all the time, and very, very fit! My dogs are a little more discriminating.

We have big dogs, partly for the reason mentioned, big dogs are scarier to peoe, and too big to put in a chest freezer or to be flushed down a loo. However, they are not to big to be injured ny intruders, and frankly for other reasons our next dogs will be a smaller breed.

londonsurrey

It's not just the honking, I've heard that they attack too! Mind you, with my luck, I'd probably end up with loudly honking non-attack geese.

Like my labrador, she was so soppy, there was no chance of her ever attacking anyone. I'd assure friends that she would actually be very useful against burglars, as she was very adapt lying at all visitor's feet, eagerly waiting to be fussed. As a large black dog, in the dark, determinedly acting as a footmuff no matter where anyone moved, she'd have tripped up all burglars, no problem.