Hello again.
I did multiple searches on the board as a whole and did not really find this topic addressed.
There are interesting (and understandably vague) posts in various places on the Internet about how to pre-position certain structures and earth works that would not look out of place while society is humming along, but could be expediently converted to hardened defensive firing positions. I get all of that. I'm not there yet (not sure when I will be to be honest), but what about the here and now?
For people with a BOL, especially if it is a "dual use" recreational property and only a true BOL in a legitimate emergency (which let's hope never happens, or at least nothing worse than say, the High River Floods where a localized area is devastated but the world as we know it continues), the very remoteness which is an "attraction" for people wanting to get away from it all ... also becomes a liability.
Let's say you have a largish chunk of land, only partly fenced. It's an hour's drive from your home, and at least somewhat off the beaten path. Far enough away that the golden horde might not stumble upon it (unless they knew exactly where to look), but close enough that you can still get out to it for a day or two, say once or twice per month.
Maybe you got a place that is pretty barren / or "raw land." If you're lucky, your yearly taxes are pretty low because there are little / no improvements. If you're really lucky, you can visit it with an offroad vehicle or on foot and make a clandestine camp .. hunter's shack .. cabin .. bunker or whatever. You sink a fair bit of time and money into the project. Maybe you've stored some food or "secret gear."
But then what? There is always the risk of some ne'er do wells finding your place (either randomly or by design). If they don't steal everything, they might use it as a meth lab, or just destroy everything / burn it to the ground because that is considered "fun" in their degenerate minds.
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So ... in the "here and now" ... "present day society" ... What measures can you take / would you take, to secure a "remote, occasional use property?"
Thanks for any advice or tips.
- Rorschach -
I guess I can answer this. Two important things. Psychological deterrents and Slowing access
I wrote this recently so I'll cut and paste- "I'm a big fan of psychological deterrents. I used to have some problems with local hunters that felt the right to be on my land. Not any more. Word got around quick.
Ive been meaning to post a couple signs in the back fields that I cannot monitor. They would not be seen from the road. Only if you were already trespassing. Hand painted on old plywood.
It would read...
"A slightly unstable biker with PTSD and a curiosity about cannibalism lives here. I'm looking forward to meeting you"
or
"Warning! Active leg hold bear traps. Please Retrace your steps carefully."
or
"If you are stealing my dear, you will be fed to my pigs to recover the protein loss"
It should be hand written for the personal touch that says to a stranger that they wont know what to expect and should probably go someplace safer."
An obvious sign should read. "Your actions on and around this property have already been digitally recorded" whether you chose to invest in Game Cameras or not.
The next- Slowing down access. You cant keep a committed person out of anyplace. You want to slow down the "Crime of opportunity". If it takes time, the chance of getting caught increases and they will move on to a softer target. The first obvious thing to do is having a closable gate or heavy chain across the access road so they cant just drive up to the door and load up. You would want that for legal reasons anyhow, posted no trespassing.
Never advertise that you have guns as that is a main target for thieves.
Next. Get a shipping container to store your valuables in. One with a metal box that covers your locks so no one can take a hammer or bolt cutters to it. Repost the "Your actions on and around this property have already been digitally recorded" on the shipping container.
I have a Tactical Harness and I have a Tool Belt. The Tool Belt is more Useful.
cernunnos5,
Thanks for those tips. I have read some of those before. I think there is the age old conflict between obscurity and repulsion or "hide in plain sight" vs. "show of force."
The approach to my property does have a locked gate (it's old and dingy, but it works). The best part is it just looks like (and basically IS) miles of boring / featureless scrub. The cleared area with the cabin is several hundred metres in through terrain that is partially impassable. I'm not sure dirt bikes could make it in, or at least not very easily. It would take either a bit of a hike, ATV, or 4x4 vehicle.
Currently, there are no signs, and it is on a dead end road. I haven't had any problems yet, but it would be extremely frustrating and demoralizing if I ever showed up with my family and saw signs of vandalism or theft. The remoteness is such that I would probably be inclined to flee the scene and return later, without my family, armed.
I am wondering if I put up signs, whether any random passersby would think, "Hmm, I wonder what's here?" and paradoxically be MORE inclined to wander onto the land.
I wonder whether there are legal means to create some kind of "natural looking" barricade?
The one good thing about being in Alberta is that if you read the trespassing act, there are (at least theoretical) rights granted to the landowner to remove trespassers from his or her property. Also, my understanding of the law (I haven't consulted a lawyer specifically on this), is that if an injury were to occur, and the injured party did not have an a priori legitimate reason for being on the land, he or she is unable to sue.
I shall have to give this more thought. Including how best to deploy a limited number of game cameras ... not that they do much good. From what I hear, law enforcement doesn't do much unless they are called upon while a crime is in progress. Case in point, we have surveillance cameras at our home. There has been more than one instance where cars parked outside (we garage ours, but most people have so much crap in their garages, they don't bother) have been broken into and/or stolen. Anyway, my neighbors told me about a suspicious couple of characters that were present the evening before. I reviewed my video footage, and sure enough, a couple of dudes walked up and down the street, trying every car door and actually entering one momentarily (and probably searching for any readily available cash or valuables). I phoned the EPS and they were completely uninterested in taking the information, seeing the footage, or anything. They even refused to file a report, saying it was unwarranted. Then the dispatcher guy / officer whomever he was, started talking about the importance of deterrence by perimeter lighting so I just hung up on him mid-sentence. I can only imagine how low priority trespassers on raw land would be given the above instance. Sigh.
🙄
- Rorschach -
This is something I have spent a lot of time worrying about too.How do you stock a retreat and hope its all safe and there if and when you need it.A metal c-can will keep unequipped people out but not someone with skills and tools.Un less you live there fulltime you cant keep tabs on it.I think you need to have a place that you can spend at least one weekend a month at.A rural setting off the beaten path,with a population of 300 to 1000ish people.I f its close knit,you need to show your face there so people know you belong there.Also,rural places like this have people of varying skills so if you have skills,you can barter for the things you don't have.(gardening)lol.After a few months of showing your face and visiting local bazaars and farmers markets(quite common)you will find a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your property.A kind of "you scratch my back,I scratch yours".Eg;when your coming out for the weekend from the "city"offer to pick supplies up for a neighbor.Also,hire the farmers son to mow your lawn or check on your place every couple days.paying a kid $100 a month to walk by your place is well worth it.I grew up in a small town and know that it takes a lot of time to gain trust from people who are use to knowing EVERYBODY they meet in their day.Once you are accepted,you will have lots of people keeping an eye on your stuff when you are away.I really think being in a community is the only real answer long term.
Sign reads..."Trespassers will be shot, survivors will be shot again!" Our friends and family find our sign vulgar and state they don't find it funny. We say, dont be so uptight...it's a joke...there wouldn't really be survivors!!! 😀
We have a gate and dogs-no one comes down our driveway that isn't supposed to be. Also we're planting many thorny bushy types of plants(milk thistle) along our front and back property(the fence line) that double as medicinal plants and deterrents. That's our before SHTF mode, but I like cernunnos5 signs.
After the SHTF, hardening your perimeter has many options and many books on the subject.
Preppers home defence by Jim Cobb-on kindle-is a great book!
There is no hard and fast rule for keeping trespassers of your property.
The more you do to inadvertently declare that you have something worth stealing, the more thieves you attract. If the entry to your property is dull mundane and the likes, campers think its a good place to set up.
Thorn bushes with barbed wire work well year round, It helps to have a electric fence, solar chargers have come down a bit in price in the last few years. Sign age is optional. In rural areas it can be generally assumed a yellow wire will be energised.
I welded jagged metal to a pipe, put a chain with lock through it and put it across the driveway at a narrow in the road attached to tree trunks. Haven't found a idiot stupid enough to let me know how well it works.
I find signs useless as some people regard them as a invitation to enter. I have a sign that reads "DANGER H2S GAS DO NOT ENTER WITH OUT BREATHING APPARATUS" This sign will not stop everyone.
I think chasing people away in my underwear with a pasta strainer on my head, mis matched boots and my cane would scare off the most hardened of crooks, even perhaps scar their memory for life. But as my luck would have it I would try to chase off someone that liked that?