Had an attempted breakin.

[Melonfish]

I've seen those 12ga trips used in airsoft, they really really do make one hell of a bang! however, they're generally quite defective, they don't go off as well as you'd think and you need strong twine or the line can snap before the plate is pulled and it goes off. tbh in a home environment you'd be best using the 9mm blank adapter for them, its still loud just not loud enough to wake the neighbours 3 streets down and should still make them wet themselves.

That said i think the idea of planting bramble/hawthorn/blackthorn far better, when climbing a fence in the dark the last thing people will want is to drop into a damned sharp and thorny bush and they should scarper sharpish.

 

[wingstoo]

There is a fence that is over Six foot around the back and side of the property, going to put some barbed wire where I think it needs it.

I think you might find that under 2.4 mtrs (8ft) it would be deemed illegal to do so, raise your fence to 7ft 6in first, then barbed wire 6in above that, but make sure you can legally have a fence over 2mtrs (6ft 6in) in the first place.

Wings

http://www.saferhouses.co.uk/HomeSecurityWallsAndFences.html

Barbed Wire
Some people choose to put barbed wire on top of external walls protecting their home and, whilst this is perfectly legal, you need to be aware of restrictions in relation to walls which border public rights of way. The Highways Act 1980 states that barbed wire which is less than 2.4 metres from the ground is likely to cause a problem to highway users. Therefore, unless your wall or fence is at least that height, you should not install barbed wire as your local authority can legitimately force you to remove it.

http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/walls.html

Planning Restrictions
You will need planning permission to build a fence or wall 1 metre high where it is next to the public highway or public footpath. On the other boundaries you will need planning permission if it is more than 2 metres high. You should always enquire of your local planning authority before erecting a fence or wall.



Protecting against Trespassers
Traditionally owners have put deterrents to trespassers on their wall or fence and if it is a party wall just on their side. You will often have seen spikes or broken glass or barbed wire on the top of walls.

However, if the wall/fence borders the public highway, then the local authority has powers to protect the public by having the deterrent removed if it thinks it could cause a danger to highway users. If the deterrents causes a nuisance or by your negligence injures a passer by, then they may be able to sue you. Err on the side of caution because if the deterrent is considered to be excessive you could open yourself up to a criminal prosecution for an injury caused.

 

[Paul_B]

The local bobby in my parents village used to write a column in the NW news letter. As a keen gardener he recommended a few spiky plants to use around fence borders. I think one was a particular variety of Euphorbia that has amazing spikes. Once the thing has grown up your fence or say around your drain pipe to prevent climbing it anyone who comes into contact with the thorns will have red weals where it scratches bare skin. Once reported then the copper said that they usually know the likely people to rob the area and the tell tale weals would let them know who to look at. He also said that it has been possible to obtain dna evidence from thorns before now. Not sure how likely that is really.

SOunds like you guys are either living in the wrong part of the world or are slightly paranoid. Like the guy who got robbed 10 years ago. That's rather a long time really so some ppl on here might think you're lucky. Still not good to lose personaly effects but I have a good solution and that is a messy house and distinct lack of anything valuable that a burglar would want. I doubt a toe-rag would be interesting in my kayaking gear or my tents or owt like that. My TV is more likely to have the bugger leave me a better one behind out of sympathy.

BTW anyone who advocates a dog please note that dogs do not have programmed responses and can act agressively when not required or wanted too. I know some Posties who have the scars to prove that. Like the guy who was stroking the nce little dog one moment then got bitten a split second, kind of just turned. I know the dogs who bite posties are kind of defending their territories but would you want it to be you who got bitten for performing your job. BTW they don't get compo for bites and have to try to deliver several times before a property is no longer delivered to. On top of that they have to deliver the warning letter advising the owner about the dog biting then too. Talk about stupid rules. You've just been bitten so you have to get a letter, date it then walk straight back to the scene of the bite to post it!! BTW any dog that bites a member of the public can be put down if that happens to be a postie on private land then that will not be an option. There are some bad owners and dogs out there (its the owners not the dogs of course).

Sorry for the rant but it annoys me when people buy dogs for protective duties as they should not be used for that IMHO. They are companions and pets, perhaps as living warning devices but as weapons (even defensive weapons) is overkill and wrong for the times they attack someone who shouldn't be like posties. That attitude is ignorant IMHO. As much as burglary is unpleasant a festering dog bite is not the answer.

BTW has anyone thought about how high fences and walls actually allow the burglars to act with impunity behind their screen? Out of the view of anyone who could call the police. I once read that a lot of the more expensive houses that have high fences or walls allow the burglar (who can climb well enough) to get over the barrier then take their time to look for the best way in then make that entry. Perhaps a lower fence / wall with suitable thorny bushes is better. Afterall no place can be made fort knox but if you make your place less inviting than your neighbpur then the theif will move on the them. That is all you need to do. That and not leave windows open or without locks. One thing is the door and car keys in the entrance or near a door. Hooking them out means your car insurers most probably not pay up. Another thing is chubb type locks with the round shafted key left in locks is not wise. A simple technique involving a biro and super glue means that the key can be used from outside then the biro removed leaving a locked door with the key in place and only a small remnant of glue as evidence of the entry method.

 

[Mojoracinguk]

Afterall no place can be made fort knox

...er what about fort knox sorry had to get that one in.

you are right about the dogs though...they are either good companions (at a push would defend you personally) or offensive and not trust worthy....it takes the owners of working dogs a long time and constant re-education to keep them under any sort of control yet be useful.

I was using a public foot path the other day that went through a garden ( I knew the guy who owns the land) the path had warning signs about dogs and as i crossed over the style and shut the half gate (tied it shut to leave it as i found it) i was confronted by three collies (think Lassy) I thought their slight barking to be nothing and carried on (i have fair to good experiance with greeting unkown dogs) As I thought these three just stood their ground about 20m away so i continued making good progress along the path.....then trotting out of the house i see their 'mate'....
'A bear' i thought...no just a huge rotty:yikes:
now a good 20m from any exit (hedges were high bushes with the internal of the perimeter of chicken wire) I took a deep breath and kept strolling. 'The bear' started giving it some vocals and ran over to me....oh great, no owner in sight.
So talking to him in a calm slightly squiffy voice he started to slow so...i kept on strolling.
then the part i hate, as i'm walking it dawns on me he is now behind me, and to him i'm submitting, so in proper doggy fashion he runs up behind me and i have to turn and confront him.
his head drops and i see him going for my leg. Seeing as he's withing arms reach my fingers are tightly packed into a fist (yes i've seen dogs who have taken fingers clean off during a scuffle and that was just a border collie) and i start to think i'm in trouble.
a few strong words seem to frighten him off and it turns out that he is just a softy....but for a few moments i was seeing all kinds of horror including me trying to explain why the dog is now sporting a 'hatchet hairdo' (i had been camping and the husqvana was dangling on me belt)
the owner eventually turns up and the dog is happy sniffing about me....so there is no real conclusion to the story other than: Dogs are totally unreliable as i'm sure if i made a move to 'shoo' this mutt away from me or tried to make it to an exit he would of gone into play/attack and things would have esculated rapidly.

Now i'm a real dog loving person and in no way feel bad about this, just thought you guy's might enjoy the story...it's a kind of what would i do situation (may be you guy's would have headed the warning signs)
Mojo

 

[Zingmo]

A simple plan is to wire a PIR to a plug socket and plug in lamp and a radio tuned in to a 24 hr talk station. You can also get a box with a recorded doggy greeting of your choice.

You have my sympathy Hugo, I disturbed a guy climbing through my kitchen window about fiften years ago; I still get a bit twitchy when I hear noises at night.

Z

 

[belzeebob23]

why not get a couple of these
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JvxnrzB1Jk&feature=related
Scott

 

[Paul_B]

YesZ I agree with you, it is not good to know someone has or was close to going through your place of sanctuary. I've only ever been the victim once of burglary and that was in my first week at Uni. Freshers week when I should have been getting drunk and meeting people. Instead I had to note down all my belongings nicked form my shared room in halls of residences. Turns out a b'stard student used a local kid to climb up a tree across to the top of a bay window and round a ledge to the tiny open window in the attached bathroom. Somehow the kid squeezed through (would have been tight for a 5 year old kid) then opened all the doors from the inside. Trouble was I noted all the main things but didn't find out that the guy had nicked my large kit bag which was perfect for the room mates 3 keyboards and two guitars and all my camera stuff. He even took my half finished pack of hobnobs and coffee. I can do without the rest but not the coffee. Got me throguh my first year.

It was fortunate that I had perhaps (perhaps not, in fact definitely not) inflated my insurance claim or I would have been out of pocket for the other stuff I found later that he had nicked. They knew who it was as it was his style but they had never been able to get him.

Still as much as I hated that stuff going I don't feel like going as far as those with attack dogs or cartridge based devices. Keep the stuff that's personal safest and the rest is just an insurance claim away from being replaced. I mean who cares so much about their TV? Its great granddads pocket watch or some photo. The photo won't be nicked but the pocket watch perhaps. I'm sure you could hide it well enough. Of course a lot of simple and safe precautions will prevent any loss. Unless you're in a dodsgy area. Then you might have to be a little dangerous I suppose. Perhaps that's why ppl have staffies.

 

[nickliv]

Get a sign made up which says

'Tony Martin lives here'

 

[Hugo]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Some of the stuff advised is helpful.

 

[Wölf 1]

Glad it's just the glass that needs replacing.

Sounds like you need to do some strategic planting of nasty spikey plants.

I strongly agree with this, My family had a spiky plant (phoenix palm I think) and my parents got lanced by it (trying to cut it down with an axe), 3 weeks later their hands were still exceptionally painful and inflated, even after a course of anti-biotics a good 2 months since my mum still can't get her hand back propperly.

 

[nickliv]

Blackthorn's goood for that. Named for the thorns injuries propensity to become infected. Decent fruit too, if you happen to like a drop of sloe gin or vodka in the long winter evenings.

Ashridge trees do bare root plants for pennies, getting on for bareroot planting time of year too.

 

[Ph34r]

Unlucky mate, maybe they saw all your sharps, sh#t themselves and pegged it. Own a dog?

 

[apj1974]

I think a dog of a reasonable size is the best answer. Paul_B seems to have a problem with dogs, and seems to be concentrating on dogs biting people, but the benefit of a dog in a house is as a barking deterrent. Most properly trained pets would probably not do much harm to someone actually entering the house, but a lot of people probably wouldn't want to take that chance. A dog also is a great companion and allows you to go for regular walks without being looked at like a wierdo!

As a vicar I think a dog is essential, I get all sorts of people calling at my door and a barking dog behind the glass door of the porch is a great help. I will freely admit she is not the best with the postman, but she has never bitten anyone and I can control her. Again its all about sensible owners, its not that hard really. Also in my experience mongrels are better.

My dog has prevented a break in on my house.

I agree with the spikey plants, but it doesn't only have to be spikes, any plant that makes climbing awkward can be a good deterrent even climbing plants like honeysuckle and ivy can put thieves. And anything that makes possible entry points a bit dodgy or unstable, light trellis on the top of fences, or even ordinary wire (not barbed). Garden canes holding plants up near a fence are perfectly normal acceptable things - but I wouldn't like to try and jump down amongst them. I think a lot of it is just about making it too much hassle rather than fort knox.