A strategic/tactical question.

[sgtredleg]

Hey all,
Upfront, sorry this may be kinda long.
I am in a kinda unique situation. I live in a 3000 acre State Park that is about 1/2 mile off of a busy interstate. The nearest town of any size is about a half hour away. The area is known as a drug and illegal immigrant corridor. I am not a certified officer but do enforce State law on the park.
I am single and live in a mobile home close to the park main entrance. We should have another Ranger living on the park, but due to changes in management and training I've been pretty much living here by myself for 2 years and looks like another year before we see any change.
Fortunately, there haven't been many recent serious incidents, but I am always concerned that something may happen.
This position requires that my residence be identifiable and accessible to the public. I do have a good dog that stays in a fenced in area in front of my house during the day and at night he stays in the house with me. Of course I keep a firearm in the house for self-defense, but I'm not authorized to carry in the park (including my yard). I have the various police department phone numbers in my cell ready for speed dial.
I consider my dog to be my biggest deterrent and I intend to train him more for that role. Aside from what I've mentioned, what suggestions would you make that may improve the security of my residence and immediate area that would still allow unencumbered access by the park patrons.

 

[CWL]

Don't know much you can really do to fortify a trailer, but I think that any BGs up to no good would probably be wanting to bypass you and the trailer, -especially since they know exactly where you are.

 

[Al Thompson]

Only thing that comes to mind would be motion activated lights and lots of them.

 

[bikerdoc]

Motion light are a great idea and should be part of any layered defense. Train the dog to bark at any approach.

Put some thought into the approaches to the trailer, using shrubbery and landscaping to channeling the approach to your defensive advantage.

 

[Pizzapinochle]

How much money do you want to spend?



Are you able to set up cameras discretely around the park? They would probably need to be solar powered, maybe placed in trees, but anything that expands your ability to see more space would give you some help.

Or, if you really want to have fun, get one of these:

http://www.styleandtechformen.com/top11/aerial_surveillance/index.html#axzz2kXBucQ82

Aerial surveillance drone that you can program to fly a set route around the park. Probably a bit of overkill, but would work.

 

[CA Raider]

agree with the idea that outside motion-activated lights would be a very good deterrent. i would also put up a large sign that says in Spanish "Ranger", "Police". Illegals that see those signs will stay miles from your house and property.

Bottom line is that if you dont go actively chasing down the narco's then its very unlikely they will interfere with you.

CA R

 

[Fred Fuller]

There's all kinds of useful technology available these days... look around on the pages linked below for even more possibilities.

http://www.amazon.com/Chamberlain-Wireless-Doorbell-Intercom-System/dp/B00CVSK1UI

http://www.amazon.com/Chamberlain-CWA2000-Wireless-Motion-System/dp/B002ISVJL6

http://www.amazon.com/Innovations-4...urity-Spotlight/dp/B001U2D6OO/ref=pd_sim_lg_3

 

[Hanzo581]

What makes you a target to where they'd rather not just pass by you?

 

[tepin]

Can you rock-in your yard? Its almost impossible to walk across rock and not be heard.

 

[9MMare]

Can you rock-in your yard? Its almost impossible to walk across rock and not be heard.

Nice suggestion. Not sure if he can implement but good to point out.

 

[SC Shooter]

Motion Lights are probably the most bang for the buck with one caviat. Every squirrel, possum, raccoon & skunk will most likely turn on the lights.

 

[conw]

Motion Lights are probably the most bang for the buck with one caviat. Every squirrel, possum, raccoon & skunk will most likely turn on the lights.

The best remedy I've found to this is to use a series of motion lights in a path that would likely be traveled by a person but not by most animals.

For example if you have a carport leading to a backyard gate and then a back patio in the area behind the fence, you should put a motion light aimed at the entrance to the carport, one aimed at the gate, and one covering the back patio.

The fields of view for the light sensors should not overlap.

This way if one goes off and the others don't it's likely an animal. If two or more go off it will be readily apparent to anyone home and they can look out a window and prepare for the likely presence of an intruder.

I would advise that the reset (automatic off) be set to a longer duration on lights pointed where animals are less likely to be, especially "choke points" like gates/entrances, and shorter for lights that get more false positives due to being in more open areas.

 

[LAK]

I do not think the poster's concerns are unwarranted. Any isolated dwelling in a secluded setting is apt to arouse curiosity. Worse case in my view would be someone(s) that might see you out and about and decide to study your routine. This is probably low on the scale of risk but the highest on potential consequences.

While you may not be able to carry a firearm on your person is it legal for you to stow a longarm in a vehicle? Or is there a total prohibition on firearms inside the park? If so a crossbow or other non-firearm might be an option. There are some very powerful air rifles that might be better than nothing. When there is snow on the ground or in wet weather a flare pistol would be "safe" to use and is probably not prohibited to have with you in an emergency kit.

I would not be concerned about animals activating sensor lighting since it's main value in deterrence would be a "startling" effect on badguys. Floodlighting that is directed outward away from your dwelling for 360 degrees will allow you to see for a good distance all around.

A good investment might be a low to moderately priced nightvision device. Should your lighting fail or be disabled through loss of power you will be able to see anyone moving around out in the open.

Depending on your geographical location and climate planting thorny bushes under and around windows would be a good idea.

As far as firearms go inside your dwelling, a handgun is fine for the bedside, breakfast and supper table. But I would have a long gun at your disposal as well since evidently you have no close neighbors, and in a real fight a suitable long gun is far more decisive than any handgun.