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I bought a lot in HPP in 2012 a neighbor told me that some people where using my lot to access the lot behind me to steal scrap metal and you could see the trail they used to drag stuff across my lot. Last year 2013 I had a driveway and house pad put in and I put a couple posts in with a cable running across my driveway with a lock. But they just ran over it and now they have a much easier way to steal from my neighbor because they now can drive all the way through my lot and into my neighbors lot and load up. So I bought a couple off gates the other day and reset my posts and put up the gates and locked them with a chain and lock. A few days later it's all gone. Any suggestions as to what to do. I'm going to build my house got my plans and waiting on permits but now I'm wondering if I should build because I don't live here yet and if these guys would go through the trouble of stealing 2 12 foot gates that are chained together so they can steal scrap then I figure they will be very happy to steal my house. Another neighbor just finished his house and said someone stole his mahogany floors. I have a house kit ordered and I'm supposed to go back after they submit my building permits any day now and pay the balance I owe on the house package but I'm having second thoughts because I can't see building now with these thieves constantly coming around. So I guess I'll be telling the house kit company that I'm not going to pay for the house kit. Have to wait till I can keep the thieves away.
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Right now we are caretakers in a house with very reasonable rent, because of the very same thing.
The owner lives in Idaho, and right after he bought the house, the neighbors broke in, and stole some things.
We live in the house to make sure there is a presence on the property.
I think it is very hard to live off island and keep your property safe.
Maybe put up a small cabin or yurt, and get a caretaker , who can provide a presence while you are building.
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Not bad advice.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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Since you have thieves with bolt cutters and they like metal and obviously then must work with it. You need to build something beyond simple field theft capabilities.
Dig down to the rock where you need your gate ends. Drill into the rock and epoxy in rebar and build a simple rebar cage and pour concrete bulkhead about the rebar cages.
The least tamper proof gate is a vertical swing gate with counter balance. This means splitting one of the bulk head within its design to work as the fulcrum point where the pivot point is comprised of heavy schedule 40 pipe and filled with concrete to impede any simple cutting techniques. The gate itself also of schedule 40 steel perhaps 4-6 inches in diameter and likewise filled with concrete. The lock point should provide a channel within the bulkhead where the end of the gate rests within the bulkhead. Here's where you need to build a heavy duty lock shoe that protect a padlock from being cut by bolt cutters. For this, look at how shipping containers protect a lock from the reach of bolt cutters and dremel tool cut off wheels. Remember to mix materials between metals and rock to make cutting the design require no less than a heavy duty diamond blade saw. The denser the aggregate you use within the concrete, the better.
Lock shoe fabricated with plate steel not mild. This way it cannot be cut off with a hack saw or abrasive wheels and then requires a cut off torch or plasma cutter. Lining the interior of the lock shoe with ceramic will greatly impede cut off torch and plasma cutting.
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Use of cellular capable field cameras may help you ID the thieves and tell you when they are there. In that case, you can call the police or a neighbor to confront them. I'd recommend giving them something to work on for some time to keep them busy while getting people out to confront them. A gate from hell may be something that pisses them off enough to seek revenge trying to destroy it. Capitalise on their obvious arrogance, make it work against them. Once busted... they won't be back.
Bust them now and you won't have to worry about your house as much.
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Sell and move to a safer neighborhood.
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One of these can monitor your property remotely. I suggest the solar panel upgrade.
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build a pit, put and a tiger in there, and cover it with palm leaves. worked for me.
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While at it, place a few punji traps and make it a real Southeast Asia attitude. (Jk) Recommend rock wall tall enough to deter chucking material over, but low enough for limited vision(block his eyesore, you get trees and sky) along the back property line, or the front, your choice. Front would need sturdy gate out of wood, as they prefer metal. How much scrap metal does he have, by the way? Is the amount left enough for the cost and time of you building a defense line?
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Tribal fisher, Unless you or someone is occupying your property you cannot keep thieves off your land. You could keep vehicles off but that would cost some money. It is unfortunate but our leadership in the county government, including the police department, have not shown much interest in curtailing property crime. As far as the CoH is concerned you are on your own.
You could look into your local neighborhood watch in HPP. There is one. They are more interested in the problem than the police are.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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