The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Helencus on September 14, 2010, 08:19:20 am

Title: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Helencus on September 14, 2010, 08:19:20 am: Went up to our new stable block this morning to discover thieves have been in in the night. Thankfully nothing in there worth stealing yet as they weren't secure as still under construction. It really p!sses me off thieving sods! We back right onto a huge field so only a hop over post and rail and your in. So top tips to try and get a bit of security up there please. I thought motion detector lights, CCTV and geese in the tack room. Need to plant a hedge need something quick growing and thorny any advice from you guys please.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: faith0504 on September 14, 2010, 08:26:43 am: were there any animals in there are they all ok????
how far away from the house is it? im thinking a baby monitor you would be able to hear anything then(know its a wee bit strange but i have a friend who uses 1) it def works,
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: jameslindsay on September 14, 2010, 08:27:22 am: It is so awful that nothing is safe these days. Geese may well be the answer, it would certainly terrify any unsuspecting thief in the night. Hopefully they will not try again though!
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Hilarysmum on September 14, 2010, 09:06:56 am: If the geese are close enough to the house to be heard, otherwise they may take the geese. What about posting all around the property that you have security cameras and alarms. As this is probably local could you perhaps get word around that you have just set up a top of the range linked to the local police station security alarm. It may warn people off. Until the hedge grows is it worth investing in barbed wire fencing out side of the post and rail, or even electric fencing on the post and rail (probably more convenient and cheaper). Sorry that you have to go through this.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Megansmam on September 14, 2010, 09:15:26 am: My partner uses Quick Thorn to hedge with. Very spikey, fast growing and very hardy. But is still going to take a few years to get going.

That baby monitor idea is brilliant faith0504
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: daddymatty82 on September 14, 2010, 09:23:35 am: electric off the mains if at all poss a flock of geese will be better than 1 if your land can cope with that as they need something like 1 acre to 1 goose as there grazers but get a few then get 1 room built ahead of the others and secure it best you can use marine ply as its very strong if you get the 1 inch thick stuff hope you dont get anymore attacts
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Sylvia on September 14, 2010, 09:51:18 am: I'm very tempted to suggest a shotgun or a galvanised gate wired up to the mains but I've had a hard night's work and not feeling very kind this morning!!
Seriously though, a good sharp dog or geese or Guinea Fowl will raise the alarm and make intruders think twice. Also a fake CCTV camera.
I can understand how angry you feel, it's not so much what gets stolen but the thought of someone with evil intent going onto your sanctuary and just helping themselves. It grubbies everything up. >:(
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Daveravey on September 14, 2010, 10:00:27 am: When we had the farms in the 70's, we had a spate of break ins & my uncle rigged up 240v to the tool store door handles :o

Only thing wrong with that these days, if someone gets a good belt from that, then the police will be wanting a word or two with you.

Perhaps rigging a crop scarer to a trip wire to scare the bejesus out of them in the dead of night, or how about a thunderflash...that would work :D

Ingredients: Military grade thunder flashes or similar, Swan Vestas matches (or, preferably waterproof matches), elastic bands, glue, fishing wire, thick tape.

1) Remove the striker from the Thunder Flash and glue some of the matches to the surround of the fuse.

2) Next, cut out the striker section from the match box.

3) Tape some of the elastic bands to the sides of the Thunderflash, place the match box striker section under the bands so that the tension holds them in place. Leave it with striker face up.

4) Attach the Thunderflash securely in the vicinity of your trap.

5) Attach fishing wire - one end to the match box striker, the other accross the trip wire section.

6) Finally, turn striker to face down. It is now armed! ;D
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Daveravey on September 14, 2010, 10:01:17 am: Oh, i found this.....

http://www.solwayfeeders.com/products/alarm-mine-p1636-c353.html
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: faith0504 on September 14, 2010, 10:06:22 am: im liking that idea
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Daveravey on September 14, 2010, 10:12:32 am: Here's a link for the shells :P

http://megaspy.net/product_info.php/cPath/30/products_id/122
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Daisy on September 14, 2010, 10:24:45 am: What about double height poultry/sheep electic net http://www.electricfencingkits.co.uk/electric-fence/Electric_Netting.html, it could be fixed to tall posts that should make it more difficult to get past
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Daveravey on September 14, 2010, 10:29:39 am: Yeah Daisy, but at a price.

There are much cheaper ways of deterring unwanted scum
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: faith0504 on September 14, 2010, 10:42:36 am: im giving the baby monitor ago when i get my new housey and barn next week, a two way one then if anyone goes sneaking about gosh they will get a shock when i scream down it
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Daveravey on September 14, 2010, 10:44:13 am: I gather you have a voice like a fishwife :D :D
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: bamford6 on September 14, 2010, 10:45:08 am: we had the same get some lenths off wood boards and put some long nails in and put them up by the hedge in the grass
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Daisy on September 14, 2010, 10:52:01 am: Just a thought Daveravey, not all cheaper ways are legal tho and in this litigious society you have to be careful
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Daveravey on September 14, 2010, 10:53:26 am: Yeah i know Daisy, like Gary's plank of wood ;)
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: pottsie on September 14, 2010, 01:16:42 pm: You may have already done it but don't forget to contact the police, they work on a system that directs patrols to reports made. You would also be surprised at how much property gets sold at auction by the police as they can't find the owner. If requested they can also send out a security officer for advice and even free kit.

Rob. ;D
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Cobra on September 14, 2010, 01:20:51 pm: Never underestimate the power of a few signs saying CCTV alarms etc. Don't install trip or injury hazards unless you have extremal good liability insurance; natural obstacle's like your hedging is far more effective and not your liability for injury.

Depends on the areas size to the cost of installing security systems and their effectiveness and the right type.

Wish you well and really sorry for the intrusion and loss, makes yah sick :(
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Sharondp on September 14, 2010, 01:43:34 pm: Just reading this through and I have images of all sorts of devices akin to those used by Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone going through my mind! ;D

Sorry for the break-in hope you find the right solution.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: scotelf on September 14, 2010, 01:49:44 pm: Theivin gits!
Police here had some shrieking alarm that they could get you, which made a hell of a din if a shed door was opened and you didn't de-activate it within 3-5 seconds. It was under a tenner and easy to fit.

But I'm liking the 2 way baby monitor idea too. Do you have a big dog which could bark down it and say you were letting it out to come and get them?? ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: faith0504 on September 14, 2010, 01:54:57 pm: choice of jack russell or rottie, my money is on the jack russell she bosses us all
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: little blue on September 14, 2010, 07:55:45 pm: If you want me to record our GSD barking like a loony, just let me know!
Berberis is a good spikey hedge, and looks nice too...

cctv (even a sign and a good fake!) is needed... just a relief nothing was taken
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Helencus on September 14, 2010, 08:59:37 pm: Thanks all really appreciate the support and tips. Whilst I'd love to put up some of the more injurous devices have to be careful not to get sued! Have reported to the police and they have been very helpful. Sent an officer round to patrol and offer advice are going to send a crime prevention officer to look over the stables and house asap given we are so exposed it's worrying me silly. Won't sleep tonight and what if someone comes for my piglets in January I will be devastated if any of my animals were injured or stolen.. Thankfully horses were in the far field out of sight and pigs were in arcs and chickens locked up. Whoever it was came for the power tools the police reckon as stables under construction still but worry they'll be back for other things.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: faith0504 on September 14, 2010, 09:06:18 pm: wish there was more we could do to help. it must be a horrid feeling
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Helencus on September 14, 2010, 10:35:00 pm: Thanks Faith we've been out several times tonight and done everything we can to secure things.. Not much more I can do until get power up there and lights CCTV etc up.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: faith0504 on September 15, 2010, 08:15:17 am: hi how did it go last night are you all ok??
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Greenerlife on September 15, 2010, 10:25:36 am: A friend of mine used a thunderflash type thingy to deter unwanteds, but forgot it and set it off himself! Scared the living daylights out of him! ;D

We've put up a camera and (so far) it has been very successful. We even had one lot of fly tipping b@s!@rds who went down the lane and regularly chucked out slabs of stone all the way down except where the camera would have caught them! Although to be fair, we also sit outside from time to time when we have a spate of fly tipping in particular, as they seem to follow a particular pattern.

Horrible feeling when someone nicks stuff from you though.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: morri2 on September 15, 2010, 10:34:44 am: Do you have a dog? - someone only has to pass the front gate by the lane and ours is barking away madly. Obviously this won't work if you have a house dog and the stable is a long way from the house. Ours has a kennel by the house and ears like radars. She actually very soft but anyone trying to break in wouldn't know that. The amount of delivery men which have been too scared of her to enter the property is quite amazing - they sit in their vans and pip the horn instead.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: doganjo on September 15, 2010, 11:05:01 am: I've found that as well - my postie asked if my dogs were OK with people as they looked so fierce through the fence - I told him he daren't go round the back as he'd be licked to death - he saw the joke and said he'd happily leave parcels in the back garden from now on if they were out. So they are definitely a deterrent
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Frieslandfilly on September 15, 2010, 12:25:57 pm: Sorry to hear about the break in, from personal experience I can sympathise with you, we had our stables broken into and they got away with around £10,000 worth of tack! At the time we were not living on site and they came back again two weeks later this time breaking into the accommodation block thinking we had locked replacements in there. Since moving here permanently we have had no trouble (2 years) however we do have 4 very large(vocal) dogs, one of which is out every night in the front which is a large area that we dog proofed for that very reason, he roams freely within his boundaries, he is an excellent guard dog as he does not bark at anything else except people and cars approaching. The police told us that they are not likely to chance it with a dog on the premises especially if they cannot locate it's exact position, it just goes to show as the farm behind us and the one down the lane have both had multiple further break ins but we have not (touch wood).

Dawn
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: faith0504 on September 15, 2010, 12:29:50 pm: a mans best friend god bless the dog :dog: my partner works away sometimes and i dont ever feel alone or vunerable because i know the dogs will look out for me
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: littlemisspiggy! on September 16, 2010, 12:46:32 am: the theiving little g£ts that came into our place 3 weeks ago decided to steal one of our geese!!!so that didnt work....they took next doors fence energiser and damaged a tractor ignition keyhole........you can't have anything these days.........we have a doberman aswell as 5 other dogs...i find her very effective..lol... as is the traditional shotgun!!!:dog: :farmer: :dog:
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Hilarysmum on September 16, 2010, 07:09:29 am: There does seem to be an attitude of I want it, I take it its mine, and if I can't take it I'll make sure you can't have it either.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Sandy on September 16, 2010, 12:03:29 pm: What about putting up a formal looking sign that says something like :- Rose lodge mental institution Visitors please be aware at all times as patients roam freely ;) ;)
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Sharondp on September 16, 2010, 12:10:51 pm: I know that was meant in jest Sandy but not all 'mental' patients are dangerous. Remember, 1 in 4 of us will suffer from mental illness at some point in our lives. (Usually stress caused by people trying to break in to our properties ;))

Anyway - I digress...
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Sandy on September 16, 2010, 01:35:28 pm: I know that only too well, it happens to us all at some stage unless we are totally hartless or just lucky!!!!!It's my sense of humor that keeps me saine, honest!!!
There was a time when I was literally surrounded by people with issues, one with paranoia( very close friend), one comming off drink so DDTs and in hospital thinking he was on a film set (my brother), one just signed out of an mental institution for scitophrinia (my best friend)and another with attachment and personality disorder and she was VERY scary!!!!!( person in care who went on to harm a few people) I remember going to the upstairs toilet and saying outload " it must be me"""
My mum was a psychiatric nurse and it was a regular occurrence to have them visit for tea at weekends etc, also I worked in many jobs caring for people adults and children, living with psychiatric illness and believe you me, some were very dangerous, I have had many close shaves. My partner and myself have also done our fair share of homeless work, on the streets for whatever reason, there are many with psychiatric problems.....
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: ser3dan on September 16, 2010, 03:22:07 pm: When I had my bikes, I had one of these (http://www.allcocksoutdoorstore.co.uk/store/product/8134/Alarm-Gun-to-Fire-12-gauge-Alarm-Blanks/) across the garage doorway at ankle height.
Not best pleased to be disturbed in the night but none of my stuff ever got stolen and you'd hear it go off so could ring the police.
I have no qualms in dealing with stealing scumbags! ;D
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Frieslandfilly on September 16, 2010, 04:01:19 pm: Quote from: ser3dan on September 16, 2010, 03:22:07 pm
When I had my bikes, I had one of these (http://www.allcocksoutdoorstore.co.uk/store/product/8134/Alarm-Gun-to-Fire-12-gauge-Alarm-Blanks/) across the garage doorway at ankle height.
Not best pleased to be disturbed in the night but none of my stuff ever got stolen and you'd hear it go off so could ring the police.
I have no qualms in dealing with stealing scumbags! ;D

OOOoo, that looks good, I might have to invest in one
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: scattybiker1972 on September 16, 2010, 08:41:04 pm: we use them .very loud just dont forget theyre there.....easily done your ears ring foer ages afterwards we use them to keep our bikes where they belong after my sons 125 was taken and dumped upside down in the lake cos we were chasing them.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Sandy on September 17, 2010, 09:18:56 am: Now I would forget everytime and end up hard of hearing........anyway, the only things we have worth stealing is our dogs :dog:
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Hilarysmum on September 18, 2010, 08:37:18 am: Over here dog stealing is big business.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Sandy on September 18, 2010, 10:25:36 am: I think it is here too, well it was in Leicestershire, not sure about Clackmannan
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: woodlandproductsfife on September 18, 2010, 07:28:31 pm: 240volts will do the trick, everytime, heres one though, gypos tinkers what ever you wish. drove in to culdesac, to younger Ginger's jumped out, picked up one of my hens, in to the pick up and away, gone, no more adios amigos!!!! unbelievable!!!
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Daveravey on September 18, 2010, 09:34:44 pm: Funny you should mention that Craig, i heard a story in the shop this morning that a few of our "travelling friends" tried to nick a car from round the corner to me.

Bad idea

The guy who owns the car is the type you wouldn't want to cross & caught them red handed

Let's just say, they had a long sore walk home ;)

Their van or what's left of it was still lying where it was left at 7pm tonight ..... in pieces :D
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Sandy on September 18, 2010, 11:10:39 pm: One of our neighbours had a problem with the travelling community and went off for a meeting and they sat in their car in a lay bye and thier son realised so went to help and had a car with no MOT so ran into the back and killed his da!!!! He is now in prison so no longer enighbours BUT..I know the network or travellers is very strong..
DO NOT CROSS TRAVELLERS!!!
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: ellisr on September 21, 2010, 06:48:39 pm: I have put a double electric fence around the horse which has detered some idiot that was going in with him, the first fence on the ouside is very visible and signed all along but the second fence is wire and not visible in dull light. I heard a scream from the top field the other night but by the time I got there they were gone and the horse was still in the field looking horrified. These people aren't there to steal him but they give him food which makes him not want the food I give him and is making him loose weight so it is for the health of my horse who really could do without a bucket of apples a day.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: daniellestocks on September 21, 2010, 08:11:28 pm: Quote from: ellisr on September 21, 2010, 06:48:39 pm
I have put a double electric fence around the horse which has detered some idiot that was going in with him, the first fence on the ouside is very visible and signed all along but the second fence is wire and not visible in dull light. I heard a scream from the top field the other night but by the time I got there they were gone and the horse was still in the field looking horrified. These people aren't there to steal him but they give him food which makes him not want the food I give him and is making him loose weight so it is for the health of my horse who really could do without a bucket of apples a day.

Dot ya just hate it when people interfere with your animals!!!!! gets me so angry >:( like do gooders taking muzzles of laminitic ponies!!!! i have a quite shy tbred whos a bugger to catch at the best of times, and the other year nextdoors kids thort it was a good idea to throw eggs t him with a catapult!!! i was brought to tears i was soooooooo angry! it took me a week to get near him :'(
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: ellisr on September 21, 2010, 08:17:30 pm: Honest Daniellestocks I am fighting so hard to get weight on him it is costing a fortune and when I go up and realise that he is being fed buckets of apples and sugar cubes it makes my blood boil.
I am bringing him down to the botom field soon where I can see him and putting the double electric fence up again. I have a public footpath across my fields and people are so irresponsible as my whether has now got a nasty dog bite on his face.
I have thought about getting intouch with the council about this and the dog feaces that are just left on the land and seeing if there can be a ban put on dogs crossing the land which is a shame for the responsible owners but necessary for my animals.
Title: Re: Thieving b@s!@rds
Post by: Helencus on September 23, 2010, 08:20:52 am: Well things have been ok since thankfully! Mustvecrealiaed nothing worth stealing but suspect they'll be back in a few weeks when they think we will finish the buildings and store tack etc. There. Power is going in this weekend along with CCTV and security lights so hope that deters. I do have a planning condition for no lighting but frankly I'm ignoring it and we will see what happens.
I do have a rather ferocious looking boxer dog but he lives in the house, folk wouldn't come on the drive but he's in at night.
Part of the problem of where we are is that we are right next to the footpath so we also get all sorts going by leaving mess and feeding my horses. I've had to put up a sign but some still think it's ok to feed them. Makes me so mad.