Need Help Discouraging Strangers

I need suggestions on discouraging people from stopping and thinking they can just come into my yard or asking for directions. Yesterday some guy backed into my driveway, got out of his car and headed across my lawn. I asked him where he was headed and said he was interested in a piece of equipment that was in my front yard. I said I didn’t know him and he responded that he was just driving around looking at places. He offered to buy what was in my yard and I said no. He walked over to my shed and started looking at was hanging on the side and I told him he needed to go. He handed me a slip of paper with his name and number and said to call him if I wanted to sell the piece and left. This all made me uncomfortable. It is a quiet area and many times people stop, say they are lost or ask directions. I want this to stop. After reading RH’s thread on safety and yesterday’s incident, I need to do something so people will keep going. Are there signs or fake cameras that would cause people to think, “That is an unfriendly place”?

 

Dogs.

Unfortunately we live right across from an elementary school most of the year. Parents literally park in my yard to wait to pick up their "walker" kids because they don't want to wait in line to do it where they should. The principal is a cold... um... fill in the blank. The police apparently can't do anything. My neighbors and I have fought for years to get this resolved. Nada.

No way I have anyway of fighting this. There is just no way but to constantly confront these assholes and then listen to their shit. I'm not built that way and would need a lot more meds to do it.

Got an "ex" marine that won't quit right behind us. Maybe he can get 'r done.

Sorry. Unauthorized trespass hits a nerve with me.

 

Were you outside when he backed into the drive? If not I'd say he was there to steal, not to deal. There are a lot of people around here who troll neighborhoods looking for Curb Alerts, and some of them will claim anything that isn't nailed down. CCTV will spook some of them, provided they see the cameras and can't figure a way around them. I used to have trouble with traveling salesmen until I got my Dobie. They make it halfway up the drive now and quickly change their minds, that dog is freaking terrifying when he sees strangers coming, ha.

If people were parking IN MY YARD I think I would develop a nasty habit of leaving boards full of nails lying around where they like to park.

BTW, did you do a 411 on his phone number? I'd be curious to see if it was even a valid number.

 

I was inside and had no clue until the dog started barking, then my child yelled that someone was in our yard. Our big dog died, he was so friendly. We had one dog that we got from the pound but he went after one of the kids and no more used dogs after that.

I will look for signs. But do people really respect No trespassing signs? We have a No Soliciting sign at work and no one pays attention to it.

 

Gate works for me and the CATTLEMAN'S POSTED sign.

Check out what is required in your area in the way of signage.

In my state you do not need signs to be legal, but you do need a fence and a gate, to cross without permission is an automatic trespass.

Then when someone trespasses simply call the cops as you walk out the door. Have a weapon ,concealed, you trust and then start taking pictures with a recording movie camera and make sure you use the words "you are trespassing and I have called the police. Be sure and get the License Plate in the picture and then actually call the police and press charges.

The word will get out.

 

I am kind of concerned about stepping out with a shotgun in my hands. Wielding a weapon is a no no. A daughter of a co-worker had a stranger banging on her door and answered holding a pistol. The stranger made a call and the cops came. Then took the pistol back to the station. It was a mess. I would need to check local laws but the LEO frown on that.

 

A good trail camera that you move about the yard works well too.

Let it be known that you have other cameras covering the area and in a cross cover of your KNOWN Camera, then let it be known that you move the cameras in a random fashion.

Of course this means you actually talk to perps, like the School Parkers.

 

Punji pits...?

 

Motomom34
Banging on the door is an automatic call to the police.

Do not open the door.

I have on occasion had unknown people set at my front gate. Sooner or later they leave, never had one open the gate and come in.

madmax
Some states have egress and ingress laws check with your councilman about the school problem, the principal could care less and does not have the authority to tell any one not to park in your driveway.

Motomom34
Disturbing the peace is a very effective charge if handled correctly and easier to prove than trespass in some states.

 

BTW, the new PC Buzz Word for thief is "SALVAGER".

Most cops get the point and will be more helpful than calling some not yet proved to be a thief a "SALVAGER".

Had some "SALVAGERS" busted in another county after they did 100s of K worth damage to public buildings. Cameras did the trick.