Perimeter Security Question

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marsofold

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West Virginia
Last year we bought a house on 50 acres in extremely rural northwestern West Virginia. There is a 1-1/2 car wide gravel road that runs literally 25 feet in front of our porch. The county maintained road is about 30 inches below the ground level of the house, is 2.5 miles at each end from paved roads, and cuts through the center of out property. Swampy terrain at one end and a treacherous mountain road at the other. Our nearest neighbor is 2 miles away. No fences on our land. We typically see about a dozen vehicles per day go by, mostly gas well worker trucks and locals using it as a shortcut. The fire dept a few miles away passes out free food every other Friday afternoon which draws more cars by us then. Occasional hairy eyeball looks seen driving by when we are sitting out on the porch. Last year we had someone break into our empty back shed. We now have solar charged intruder lights (Walmart $20) on the back and sides of the house. What can we do to enhance our perimenter security (I carry a 1911)? Wife doesn't want a high chain-link fence surrounding the house spoiling our country view. Even if we did high barbed wire fencing anyone could just walk the back fields (won't consider fencing the 1.25 miles around the total property). Practical advice requested.
 
Exterior camera's may help. I first got a system for the home several years ago. Had wanted one for a while, Wife was poo pooing it. Then someone got into her car she forgot to lock one night. She ordered a system before she even asked me :D
They have gotten super cheap and good now days like all tech. You can set them to monitor for motion if you wish. Once I had it I would no longer be without one. If in bed (work nights, sleep days) and Dogs say "something is out there", I can just glace at my phone to see without even getting up. The cheap system we have can handle up to 8 camera's, I just use 4 for now. Records for a week before it loops.
 
Start to intentionally develop good relationships within the community. In a community like that you do not want to be seen as the unfriendly outsider. To start, join the fire department if you're physically able and help distribute that food and make sure to smile and wave at each vehicle that passes.
 
... and make sure to smile and wave at each vehicle that passes.
Such a little thing (that quickly becomes automatic) can provide a good return. If you do that you may soon make some new friends.

Place & setup like that, I can see folks stopping in the road just to talk to you, some, if they see you chilling on the porch. I certainly would. :)

So ... have you figured out (yet) how best to deal with the dust churned up by the passing vehicles on such a CLOSE gravel road. ;)
 
Going back to my experience in Nam I offer these thoughts. A fence only slows down attacks by multiple adversaries. It does not stop infiltrators who cut it, climb it, or dig under it. Unless you have 360 degree constant on lighting an infiltrator can get across your ground without being seen even if you have eyeballs scanning the ground. The best detection system was a trained war dog. They could smell the threat before they could see the threat, and they could see the threat before you could. A sentry dog is trained to be what it becomes. There is no security device as reliable as a trained dog. And they are fun to,play with too.
 
You've listed your current security precautions - here's a few additional possibilities that aren't too expensive to consider... I'd want a very strong bright light on a pole (or a tree) that can illuminate the rear of your house for at least 100 feet out (maybe more...) and I'd want it set up with a motion sensor and an inside the house over-ride switch... Something you can turn on at will any time you feel the need... The kind of light I'm talking about would light up a small parking light and do it well enough that you could see exactly what that area's status is just by looking out the window... Depending on your area you might need two of them...

Next I'd consider a dog - not necessarily a big aggressive dog - but certainly a noisy one that's territorial... An inside animal that will alert you to potential intruders on your grounds close to the house.

Lastly, home alarms are greatly advanced these days and you can have one without major cost that links to your cellphone(s), so that when you're not at home you get an alert if someone enters or attempts to enter your residence... This won't stop an intruder - but will give you the all important info that you've got a problem before you walk in on it... I figure that your property is much less important than the folks that live there... and their safety... No, I don't like any signs that a property is alarmed... I want it to be a surprise if anyone is ever foolish enough to attempt a crime at my dwelling...

Finally, something I pointed out to more than one homeowner years ago when I worked the street.... Your best defense for your property is good neighbors who will look out for your place when you're not around... In an isolated location that will be a tough one - but still I'd make a point of getting to know my neighbors and doing whatever I could to look out for them - in hopes that they'll do the same for me....
 
Of all the above suggestions that are VERY good.

The fence that looks a bit social and not threatening is a good idea,in my opinion.

One that does not look like a concentration camp fence is what your looking at.

Especially one that is "natural" looking,like stone from the fields.

I LOVE the last one above me,POWERFUL LIGHT as light is a real weapon of the night !!.

If you have any doubts,go out in the REAL dark and shine a light in your own face ---- yea that weapon,loss of sight !!.

I would go a bit overboard,and look at a landing strip light :)

Also if you are really up on the laws AND keep yourself mentally alert ,you might consider perimeter alerts.

They come in .22 caliber .209 primer versions,and .12 gauge versions.

Just be sure that you know exactly where they are and that they are legal to use and will not start a fire.

The reaction to one is SPECTACULAR to say the least.Watching a trespasser trying to break the 4 minute mile in the dark must be seen to be appreciated.

And I am a huge believer in high def cameras [ yes 8 around my house ] and they are amazing.
 
There are all kinds of Electronic Motion sensors. Used by all kinds of applications, from Ware house's Parking lots, storage facilities, military facilities, residential and on and on. Much more effective than dogs. The work 27/7 in all weather. They can be hooked up to CCTV as Well. You need to call a quality Electronic Security Alarm company that can give you a custom design for your specific property, life style and address all your concerns.
 
Early warning is your best bet. Dogs do well. Our labs do well at this, but won't stop someone other than licking them to death. Electronic car sensors on the road. More than one. First one goes off, then second one. That way you know if the car doesn't hit them both that it stopped. They need different sounds. We live on a dead end. The dog has learned the sensor sounds. One for the dirt road and another for the driveway. You may want some Guinea Hens. They are excellent at making noise at intruders. And they love to eat tics.

https://www.wideopenpets.com/why-you-should-probably-get-a-guinea-fowl/

Get a smart Siamese Cat. A smart one is better than dogs when something isn't right. Mine is. Although not as good as when he was young. He makes a loud yowl when there is anything outside. Diesel our 120 pound lab is second at knowing when there is a problem. He seems to have an intrinsic protective gene.

IMG_0836(Edited).jpg
 
Get a couple guinea fowl. And medium to large dogs. If possible train them to only eat food you have given them. It's possible although highly unlikely someone could poison the dogs. So they can break in later. Maybe a driveway alarm. Or two.
 
Combine bikerdoc and bearcreek's suggestions and you have a winning solution.

My Rat terrier doesn't have the deterrent effect of CDW4ME's dogs, but he is a handy alarm. I am the deterrent.

Your best defense for your property is good neighbors who will look out for your place when you're not around...

This is true, and why the becoming involved in your community is important. SWMBO has a Little Free Library in the front yard. The neighbor across the street has 2 little girls just starting to read. When the tech from the phone company (whom I know well) was here deciding how to do the FTTP install (Which Covid has on hold :fire:) , she called the cops on him. We all had a good laugh out of it, but it is good to know your neighbors are looking out for you.
 
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Was there a property survey done at time of sale? (States vary on this as a requirement.)
The reason to ask is to see if there is a road easement, a Right-of-Way, legally defined across your property.
(Such things are considered a detriment in property sales, as you often have to pay property taxes on a "community" asset, like a road.)

If this was just a driveway to the property, that was extended to the other paved road for the owner's use, that does not necessarily make it a "County" road (other than by adverse possession, which is a topic for a different forum).

If that latter is the case, you can just put up a gate on one of the sides of the "through road" (you will likely be required to leave one open for 911 access. The gated side would need prominent "Private Property" and "No Trespassing" signs; the "open" end would need "Private Property" and "No Outlet" signage.
Maybe.
Perhaps.
(Might take some lawyering, too)

Now, if it's an easement, and especially if your property is divided into legal lots on either side (which would be ideal as you would not be paying taxes on a public road) then the road is the road.

However, that does not mean you have to have no barrier to the road and those using it. And, rather than a fence you could just put in plants and have a hedge, instead. A person could find some local to WV vegetation that would be perfectly in place, but under-inviting to the uninvited. Simple things like thorny holly or even wild rose varieties can be placed to be a detriment.

Now, the other sides are both simpler and more complicated. out of the swampy areas, I'd be inclined to create a mown strip as close to the line as I could. I'd buckle down and get stakes and one strand of wire up, too, if only to hold up No Trespassing signs. In the swampier areas that's tougher sledding. But, if you don't give people a clue, then they can plead ignorance.

That's 2¢, spend it as you will.
 
People tend to believe Dogs never get killed, shot, poisoned, clubbed etc. Seen it way too often. A electronic custom system works better than any dog. And again, easily hooked to monitoring and even recording of events. If you are away from home a Dog cannot call you are the police. If you cannot afford a GOOD quality system , the yes get a dog. But understand their limitations.
 
It is a public access county road that gets a gravel fill twice a year from the county. There is a house 2-1/2 miles down the road with a 1/2 acre chain link fence around it. Wife doesn't like the concentration camp look of it, but will defer to me if I insist. In reality, to stop intruders it would need a hot wire at the top. We are planning to fence in sheep a bit near the house anyway and already have an 6 joule shocker. Otherwise it would have to be some seriously thorny hedge around the place. The bright security light idea is a definite. Dog is iffy because it could be poisoned or shot when we are away.
 
Dog kept in house unless you're present... It's value is an early warning about possible trespassers or intruders while you or your partner are home....

As already noted, very easy to do something really bad to a dog kept outside when you're not home ( years and years ago I was actually taught a few very bad moves to deal with sentry dogs)... Years later in law enforcement our SRT had a point man who's specific job was to put down a dog immediately if a warrant on heavy bad guys was in progress... We were very hard on dogs deliberately placed to protect active felony types... and almost every team member liked dogs and owned them.
 
Last year we bought a house on 50 acres in extremely rural northwestern West Virginia. There is a 1-1/2 car wide gravel road that runs literally 25 feet in front of our porch. The county maintained road is about 30 inches below the ground level of the house, is 2.5 miles at each end from paved roads, and cuts through the center of out property. Swampy terrain at one end and a treacherous mountain road at the other. Our nearest neighbor is 2 miles away. No fences on our land. We typically see about a dozen vehicles per day go by, mostly gas well worker trucks and locals using it as a shortcut. The fire dept a few miles away passes out free food every other Friday afternoon which draws more cars by us then. Occasional hairy eyeball looks seen driving by when we are sitting out on the porch. Last year we had someone break into our empty back shed. We now have solar charged intruder lights (Walmart $20) on the back and sides of the house. What can we do to enhance our perimenter security (I carry a 1911)? Wife doesn't want a high chain-link fence surrounding the house spoiling our country view. Even if we did high barbed wire fencing anyone could just walk the back fields (won't consider fencing the 1.25 miles around the total property). Practical advice requested.
Get a dog.
Use drive way alarms and motion detecting lights and game cameras.

I put up a "log fence". It isn't for stopping walkers but they aren't gonna DRIVE anything up to the house and it was free.

Log fence b.jpg


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I like the concept of a low fence incorporating logs and heavy bricks or stone that won't ruin the view from the front porch, but will prevent someone from driving a vehicle into the yard. Also, it is a form of boundary marker that will clue someone that doesn't already have bad intent that perhaps they shouldn't cross the boundary.

I also have high-intensity motion lights (including one on a pole over my well-house) that will light up a few acres like the state penitentiary and can be seen from passing airliners flying over at 35,000 feet. I have all windows and doors alarmed (and my sheriff's deputies will respond), a strobe light on the front of my garage, and an audible siren that will wake the dead. 360 degree camera coverage and a great smart-phone app to see what's going on in Old Dog-land in HD when I'm not at home.

But ... our wolf-pack is extremely territorial, baby girl is 90 pounds, older sister 95 pounds and the big guy is 110 pound. And they're silent stalkers ...
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