r/tacticalgear • u/SodaRider1 • 1d ago
Securing perimeter woods
We’ve had several attempted/successful burglaries in our area, and our home was targeted last week. The bad guy came from the rear of our property over about 1/2 mile of woods/pasture (caught on trail cam). When approaching our home, he low crawled from woods to the home… not his first rodeo. None of them have been afraid of cameras… always wearing a full mask and hoodie. I need something in the woods behind our home to scare them off and alert us.
Thinking about some kind of tripwire / flashbang in the woods but I have to believe wildlife would set them off pretty quick. The strip of woods behind our home is roughly 200’ x 600’ but there’s a mowed path leading to the house that’s the first priority to arm.
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u/TheeScribe2 1d ago
Go to Ukraine, pick up a couple of landmines (they’re left out everywhere, you can just pick them up and take them), problem solved
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u/Godless_Rose 1d ago
“The people in charge don’t want you to know this, but the mines in Ukraine are free. I, myself, have over 400 mines.”
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u/Impressive_Trick_975 1d ago
You joke, but I literally picked up 2 mon- 50s on a mission a while ago, and now they sit in my closet, and i have no idea what to do with them. Obligatory PSA don't mess with land mines unless you have a closet to put them in.
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u/pewpew_lotsa_boolits 1d ago
A mine closet?
Oh great. Another home project that I’ll start and never finish.
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u/AlpacaSwimTeam 1d ago
Hold on, muting this thread on the wife's phone.
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u/Cryyus 1d ago
Not now babe, I’m doom scrolling r/tacticalgear
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u/AlpacaSwimTeam 1d ago
Well at this point my house is already more closet than house after adding on a Lego closet, and a plant closet (greenhouse) and her gun closet and then my gun closet and then the bar, and then the hidden bar, and then the grotto... I'm just tired. I don't need a mine closet.
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u/Silly-Swan-8642 1d ago
You can get remote audio motion sensors. Look for driveway alarms. My wife bought one and it has 4 channels and solar charging. It makes a tune or noise when tripped and sends alerts to our phones with the area that has the motion alert.
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u/TrainForHavoc 1d ago
I wouldn't recommend letting the bad guy know that you're on to them with a device that makes a tone when tripped. They'll just avoid that route next time. They've already proven persistence and are becoming more brazen and comfortable approaching OP's home. It would essentially be starting a race to who could be ready to do harm first between OP and the robber.
Never give up any advantage when it comes to defending yourself or your family.
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u/sawyerdk9 Civilian 1d ago
I believe I have something very similar to what they’re describing. The actual device that senses motion doesn’t make a sound. The ‘base’ that receives the signal is what chimes and also sends a notification to your phone.
This is the device
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u/PearlButter 1d ago
Nah it’s like a web where you have a bunch of sensors and you have a central hub. The sensors are the things that detect motion and send the signal to the hub thingy which your either carry on you or store inside your house and it will ring/beep when a sensor detects motion and it will tell you which sensor detected motion (hopefully you have a map of where you placed these or written down somewhere).
The issue with these is that depending on what you get, the range that the sensor will reach the hub is generally limited to like 100 yards with the economical models and the sensor detection range is like ten yards depending on the settings you use. At the least you can put these around your house but for OP he won’t be able to detect anything that is 1/2 miles away, or at least not with the cheaper stuff.
The other issue is that depending on how dark the area is, at least with my driveway sensors, you may be able to pick out a red blink from the sensor when the thing detects movement. A person can spot it and either take note it’s there or literally take it and sabotage it.
Another thing is that this will also detect random animals or bushes/trees swaying depending on the sensitivity settings used.
I would recommend OP to seek out a long range model and hide them well or secure enough that it’ll be a pain in the ass to steal or sabotage.
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u/MrPeanutsTophat 1d ago
Do you have a dog? A large dog that lives in the yard would be my go to.
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u/marston82 1d ago
Can also vouch for dogs for crime deterrence. OP needs a guardian type breed that will naturally guard its territory and is suspicious of strangers. Recommend a press Canario if OP is up to the task of training and responsible dog ownership. Criminals will be naturally deterred when they see a large aggressive dog behind a fence.
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u/AKblazer45 1d ago
Pyrenees
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u/marston82 1d ago
They’re good but more for livestock guarding against animal predators. OP sounds like he needs a guard dog type breed dog breed that is naturally aggressive against human intruders. Most presa canarios will naturally bite human intruders or threats without training or direction from the handler.
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u/MrPeanutsTophat 1d ago
I don't even think he needs to go that far. He could probably get a large mutt from the pound and have enough of a deterrent with it just barking.
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u/marston82 1d ago
I mean if someone attempted to break into my house, I would get a serious guard dog that will attack an intruder without training or owner directions. Criminals have actually tried to break into OP’s house, the threat is no longer theoretical. It comes down to whether OP wants an alarm system that only barks or a security dog that will back up its bark with its bite. It is a serious commitment to get a Presa Canario but worth it if you want a dog that will guard its family and territory for real.
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u/jonkoeson 1d ago
Every pit bull I've owned/met naturally didn't like anyone coming up to and/or climbing a fence that they're used.
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u/swizz_bravo 1d ago
Check these trip wires out
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u/callforspooky 1d ago
First is a fence and/or trespass signs properly displayed so there’s no legality questions of them not being informed. A good fence on the property line is nice but can be expensive, another one closer to the house is less expensive but also a deterrent. Dogs are nice. Thorny vines and bushes on the edge of the property. Low hanging branches cleared so they have less coverage to hide. Motion lights. There are some non lethal trip wires that use a shotgun primer for sale like $40ish in the intenret
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u/No_Cartoonist6359 1d ago
Security in depth:
Deter Deny Detect Defend
In that order.
Signage; fence; cameras and lights; dog; lead If that doesn't dissuade them and they actually attempt to break in to your occupied home.
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u/runswithscissors94 1d ago
Claymores and punji sticks
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u/pewpew_lotsa_boolits 1d ago
And you need to piss on said punji sticks.
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u/followupquestion 1d ago
Urine isn’t going to present as much problem as dog feces (or human, this is a judgement free zone) smeared on the pointy end.
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u/PRK543 1d ago
Unless the mowed strip is a powerline/pipeline easement. Add a Fence and then add some thorny bushes on obvious ingress/egress trails. As a bonus, you can plant thorny fruit bearing plants such as raspberries or black berries. Blackberries or raspberries may be kind of hard to tame if left unchecked, but you want to make getting to your house not worth the effort.
I also keep inexpensive solar flood lights on my fence line. Mostly because our black dogs are dificult to see at night, but it does help act as a deterrent as slight motion sets them off.
In the short term you could also add wireless security cameras. I am suprised at how sensitive my doorbell camera and some of the wireless cameras from the same brand are.
You want a mix of passive/active measures that make someone decide to go for a softer target.
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u/M1CAustin 1d ago
Get a gun
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u/High_rise_guy 1d ago
Motion lights comes to mind first as a low cost and fast install. Low wire entanglements for the sections of woods that you don’t use regularly.
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u/Justingtr 1d ago
12 gauge flash bang trip wire and motion lights. That should give you enough time to grab your home defense gun. If my kids are home and someone is crawling up to my property trying not to be seen then I wouldn't let them live another day.
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u/dinkleberrysurprise 1d ago
Guys here really want to start shooting. lol at the guy who wants you to fire blanks into the woods.
I’d argue a much more gentle escalation curve is probably warranted considering how much depth you have. I second the motion lights and whatnot for situational awareness but I’d put in some motion stuff that’s a bit more…suggestive. Lights popping on intimidates an intruder but doesn’t scream “I am looking for intruders and now I know you’re here.” Make noise.
Higher tech, maybe motion alarms. Lower tech, tripwire attached to bells or something like that. Motion sensing sprinklers if you want to scratch that Home Alone itch.
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u/Thenewclarence 1d ago
Get yourself one of them robotic lawnmowers and attach a claymore to the top of it. That paired with some thermals to see the fella in the trees and Bob's your uncle. Would also work well with game.
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u/PersiusAlloy 1d ago
You can get one of those tripwire things that attach to a shotgun shell and once it's tripped it goes off to be alerted. that'll probably scare the shit out of them, or if they're bold, make them return fire as they run away like bitches.
You can get fancy with it if you wanted to by building a remote turret with a paintball gun and use a Raspberry Pi and radar module.
Or just old an fashion punji sticks pit. Once done cover it up. No one knows he's there anyways.
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u/Claw_0311 1d ago
Motion activated lights, and clearly visible cameras, some hidden ones as well.
This isn’t really a time to be dawning full kit and setting up a hide site in hopes to be able to end up in a situation.
While you might find success in some sort of early warning device, I think wildlife would be more likely to set it off.
Dogs are great as well.
Edit: if it were me along with what I mentioned, I would have the camera setup to notify my phone as soon as motion is detected, and once you confirm it is a trespasser, make you presence known
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u/SodaRider1 1d ago
Yeah, definitely thinking of the legal risk. I just installed a new defend camera down on the trail. May help ID them but not a great deterrent. I’ll see about getting electrical down there for some motion lights, but these guys are pretty bold.
I do like the idea of some barbed wire that happens to get dropped off back there and never picked up.
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u/PlayfulNorth3517 1d ago
Put up signs warning of claymores, or mines. Don’t actually do it but I sure as shit wouldn’t risk crawling thru a mine riddled forest.
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u/9toes 1d ago
motion lights and cameras, and this can get ya a laugh when you watch the video, and no one gets sued
https://youtu.be/UpkNwgFaRg4?si=kYorxta5TaX2GFLY
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u/Senior_Road_8037 1d ago
Could string out a single ribbon of electric fencing, low enough to get tangled in, but it may catch animals.
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u/Trevdogg187 1d ago
I got a couple tripwires that work with a 12 gauge shell off of preppersales. The shell isn’t intended to be deadly, unless you modified it, but would scare someone a lot more than a motion light coming on would
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u/No_Zucchini_2200 1d ago
Trip wire shotgun BLANKS.
Just like it sounds.
Works like tripwire booby traps from the military.
Only just loud and scary. They don’t hurt anything and you won’t go to jail.
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u/Sarkofugis 1d ago
Some of those laser trip detectors for driveways would probably do well to notify yourselves indoors if somethings wandering through the woods, without worrying about tripping flares and kabooms, IF it's within range - some of them have further or shorter ranges, YMMV. Depends on how far the open ground from woods to the house is.
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u/SlideOnThaOpps 1d ago
Beltfed (I suggest a Fightlite with an FRT) with overlapping fields of fire, claymores placed in series, and trip flares on all major footpaths. Razor wire and caltrops to funnel him into your kill box. In for a penny, in for a pound.
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u/bigbigglesworth0 1d ago
load your home defense rifle and wait if he's low crawling he's probably not clutching onto anything so you might not get shot at all
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u/Vast-Musician-5679 1d ago
I would do motion lights and a camera. The last thing you want is some trap to hurt someone (deserved or not) then they sue you and take your money anyway.