Discouraging vandals

baxio

Hi,

We live on the corner of a council estate where two main roads join and there is a pub just round the corner. Our fence fairly frequently gets the odd hole kicked in on it overnight, most likely from drunks coming home from the pub. A few weeks ago we heard an argument and a crash- I think a guy pushed his girlfriend into the fence and it pretty much smashed it to bits.

My Dad has suggested maybe putting anti-climb paint and CCTV signs on the fence to deter people. However, I'm wondering if this will attract thieves who will see these measures but no actual CCTV and think "what have they got in there" and it might make the house more tempting to them.

Just curious as to people's thoughts/ experiences on this.

Thanks,

Dan

Ebe_Scrooge

Unfortunately there's not a lot you can do to stop people kicking holes in the fence. A friend of mine did once come up with an ingenious way of discouraging people from climbing up it. Have a root around in the garage/shed, find all the odd bits of gloss paint we all seem to end up with in old tins. Mix them together with a good dollop of grease, and paint it on the top of the fence. It won't stop people climbing it in the first place, but they'll only do it once :-) There's no way that lot will wash out, and it'll ruin the expensive designer track-suits so beloved by neds. With the added bonus that you can't be prosecuted for causing bodily harm like you could if you put broken glass or barbed wire up.

jk0

Build a wall up to 4'6", and fix a small weak fence above that. No-one will be knocking holes in the wall, and the fence will make it very awkward to climb.

Jackmydad

jk0 wrote: »

Build a wall up to 4'6", and fix a small weak fence above that. No-one will be knocking holes in the wall, and the fence will make it very awkward to climb.

Be nice if you could build a 4.6 metre brick wall. . .
But failing that your idea would seem to be about the best that can be done.

giraffe69

Doesn't it say 4ft 6in not 4.6m?

Davesnave

giraffe69 wrote: »

Doesn't it say 4ft 6in not 4.6m?

Yes it does, but some people view on phones, tablets and 15" screens. (That's fifteen inches, not metres or feet! )

My advice is not to put signs up, which just seem to antagonise certain sorts of people and invest long term in some pyracantha bushes or similar.

Jackmydad

giraffe69 wrote: »

Doesn't it say 4ft 6in not 4.6m?

Yes it does.
I was just thinking that a really big wall would be better!

tacpot12

Your might do something creative, e.g. painting concrete fence panels to make them look like fencing. Or you could investigate composite fence panels to see if they might be stronger than wood. You might also hang a second cheaper fence panel over the original panels as a sacrificial board that will both absorb the force of any kicks better than a single panel and be cheaper to replace if it is damaged.

Ultimately, a properly built wall is probably going to be as cheap and will last longer.

Norman_Castle

Wire mesh fencing a few inches in front of the fence might prevent damage.

Fire_Fox

Davesnave wrote: »

My advice is not to put signs up, which just seem to antagonise certain sorts of people and invest long term in some pyracantha bushes or similar.

Agree, plant spiky hedging.

LadyDee

A hawthorn hedge is a good deterrent.