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Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need help

Thinking of upgrading your door security? Getting a better deadbolt or padlock? Getting a new frame or better hinges? Not sure what brand or model to go with for your particular application? Need a recommendation? Feel free to ask for advice here!

Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need help

Postby jamesbond » 27 May 2017 22:33

Good evening,

My neighbor informed me that there was attempted mail theft along the street last night (see pictures from his camera below).

We live in a semi rural area, with farm land. We want to install a gate, right now we just have a tiny little manual swinging gate, with an intercom.

We also want to build a barn/shed, life Tuff Shed with secure locks and access points to keep our tools and stuff.

Do you all know what are some ways to secure a front gate? We have flexibility in what we can install, and also want an intercom system.

We are also looking for a great security setup for the barn/shed that we will buy, soon.

Last, but not least, we do have a lockable mailbox, is there any other way to prevent mail theft or even better, get alerted when a vandal is touching the mailbox, e.g. some sort of alarm?

We do have cameras, but some form of audible alarm?

We are so indebted for your help,
Cheerios,

James

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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby JSwistak » 29 May 2017 21:34

I had several 'Mail Issues' so I ended up renting a box at the UPS store, now everything is delivered securely and all my packages are there till I pick them up. Looks like you got good evidence for the police.
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby Squelchtone » 29 May 2017 23:19

Post the last photo at the door and register of the local convenience store where everyone in town goes to, if you recognize these people and they happen to be neighbors print this and stick it outside their mailbox to let them know you know who they are. The thefts should stop. And totally file a police report and print those pics for the police.

The locking mailbox is a good idea but its best to stop the problem not defend against it.

Some secure mailboxes with high security Medeco brand locks may cost you hundreds of dollars, is that worth it?
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby indigoalpha6 » 30 May 2017 11:46

how about getting some law?
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby Jacob Morgan » 30 May 2017 12:39

For a barn/shed, would use carriage bolts for hinges and latches. Reinforce the door and door frame--has to be more than 3/4" OSB board.

Would worry about feet, pry bars, and maybe bolt cutters, not lock picks, from those sorts of people.

Do not leave anything laying around that could be used to break in. Petty thieves of opportunity may avoid carrying burglar tools, but would be happy to use a make-shift tool they found laying around. A stack of steel fence posts = pry bar, etc.

Main thing about a lock for a shed is to make it easy to use. Those people go away and two years later the people in your house no longer bother to lock the door to the shed. Meant to lock it later that day, etc. Then the new petty thieves show up and walk off with stuff.

Best alarm system for a shed would be a good dog.
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby Squelchtone » 30 May 2017 12:54

jamesbond wrote:We do have cameras, but some form of audible alarm?


I have this on my drive way entrance which is some distance from the house.

https://www.amazon.com/Chamberlain-CWA2 ... B002ISVJL6

any human or vehicle walking within range of this motion sensor gets picked up (even has range and sensitivity adjustments), and the wireless base unit inside the house makes a loud beeeeeeep sound. You can add more units each with their own sound to secure front, side, backyard, shed area, etc.

lithium battery inside motion sensor has lasted me 1.5 years now with 0 problems (including a cold New England winter with snow and ice up to the sensor eye), only 1 false alarm was a bird trying to see the sensor would make for a good nest. (It is attached to a fence post by end of driveway)

Squelchtone

if you are near the shed during the day and dont want it to beep inside (it's pretty loud and annoying, but that's the point, right?) you could put the base unit on a light timer so it is only on 9pm-6am when you aren't actually outside working around the shed.
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby demux » 30 May 2017 14:16

I just put up a shed at my place a couple of summers ago. If your doors allow it, I'd suggest looking into a keyed deadbolt or cylindrical lockset instead of a padlock. If they don't, you can look into adding some additional framing to them to allow this. Some 2x4's sistered to the back of the door on their broad face work well for this, and will also add some strength to the door itself as Jacob Morgan suggested. These types of locks provide a bit less attack surface than a typical padlock/hasp setup. Plus in my case, it prevents one of my kids from trying to lock the other in the shed, which I could totally see happening with a padlock and hasp. :wink:
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby ltdbjd » 30 May 2017 20:40

My three big dogs keep people away from the house, but they are inside dogs. They don't do much good for protecting my shed.

Know what keeps people away from my shed?? BEES!!! Lots and lots of bees. Get yourself some hives and I guarantee nobody will want to mess with your shed.

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That's my shed on the left. Here's the third hive (just out of the picture), with a good view of my girls protecting my stuff. You can almost here them say, "come on, try it. I dare you!"

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Works better than any lock at keeping people at a distance!
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby Shackle Jackal » 31 May 2017 18:30

There have been a rash of beehive thefts in my area, the farmers use them to pollinate their crops since the wild bees are becoming more and more scarce in the southwest so they (the hives) are worth big bucks or at least wayyyy more than they used to be, I wouldn't count on the bees for security as they may be a target themselves.
Its a very dangerous thing, to know what your doing. - Murderface
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby RedE » 31 May 2017 22:21

I'd probably put a dead Rattlesnake in the mailbox and make some good sound effects. Would love to see their reaction to that :D :D :D
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby ltdbjd » 1 Jun 2017 0:01

Sadly, you are right. Hives are being stolen like crazy. Fortunately for people like me, the thefts typically target large commercial sites. And it is believed that other commercial beekeepers are behind a lot of it.

It's like a lot of professions. The commercial keepers are in it for the contracts and bringing it lots of money. The more hives they have, the more contracts they can get. With issues like Colony Collapse Disorder and Varroa mites, losses range in the 30% to 60% average.

Us hobbiests are in it for the enjoyment, sell some raw, unprocessed local honey, some beeswax products, and maybe even break even one day.

I know the drill, somebody please call 911, I just committed a highjacking.
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby Squelchtone » 1 Jun 2017 2:02

I wonder if OP is coming back to read all these replies...
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby Silverado » 1 Jun 2017 6:59

Squelchtone wrote:I wonder if OP is coming back to read all these replies...


Maybe he's busy stocking up on dogs, bees, and rattlesnakes?

:lol:

The part about beehives being a target for theft brought up an interesting (to me) thought; I feel like it probably would not be hard to prove beehive theft as I do not see the average lay-man, with no experience handling bees, trying to steal beehives. I think it would have to be an experienced beekeeper. Around me there are not many experienced beekeepers.
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby kwoswalt99- » 1 Jun 2017 10:11

Silverado wrote:
Squelchtone wrote:I wonder if OP is coming back to read all these replies...


Maybe he's busy stocking up on dogs, bees, and rattlesnakes?

:lol:


Maybe he's strapped down to a table, with a laser approaching his crotch?
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Re: Mail theft, trespassers in the neighborhood, we need hel

Postby Ralph_Goodman » 1 Jun 2017 11:15

Would the bees be out and about at night?

I love the idea, but it occurs to me that I cannot recall ever seeing a bee at night.

Perhaps they are always flying around their hive. Or would this have to be more of a daytime protection that deters crimes at night based on observations made in the heat of the day?

Also is the whole colony collapse issues still around? I feel like ever since "The Happening" (with Marky Mark), I haven't heard too much more about it.
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