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[gettingdistant]

I live in a small town in the south. It's a place that I would consider to be safe. Nothing really bad ever happens here, yadda yadda. However

Comments

[tisiphone]

Security systems and the like are mainly about deterring theft, not about catching thieves. If you can't afford to install a better shed and/or an alarm system that will ignore animals, then there's not really a lot you can do except make it inconvenient. One thing you could do is use heavy hardened chains and padlocks to secure things so they can't be moved or used easily without the key. This won't completely avoid your stuff being stolen, but it will reduce the chances of opportunistic thievery.

[redfield79]

I bought a security system online. .. cane with four cameras and it records all day. It was 100 bucks and works great. Has night vision too

[redfield79]

If people see the cameras. .. they will likely avoid stealing. Also if money is tight. .. but fake cameras. At an old apartment complex they had horrible issues with people buying out of the building. .. she put in fake cameras with a little blinking light and battery and they stopped coming in the building. We lived in condos and government housing wad behind us. Saw two massive drug busts in 2 years including one with shots fired. Anyway this might be a better option if you're low on cash

[rainarana]

Yeah, the shooting people over stealing is so incredibly messed up. Frustrating as the situation is that isn't the answer. Contact your local police and take out a trespass warrant and hang no trespassing signs. This will allow the police to enter your property (yard) without needing a warrant if they see suspicious activity. Get a "beware of dog" sign. Get a home security sign even if you don't have a system. Have the neighbor do the same. Be visible, chat with your neighbors outside and watch who drives, walks, bikes around. Call the police every single time there's any kind of crime, no matter how petty. I live in a high crime area, there are actually people walking around with rolling garbage cans and shopping carts with assorted items that are obviously stolen yet we've not had any problems.

[supermelanie]

Start a neighborhood watch program. Honestly, I wouldn't mess with anything else. Absolutely nothing you own is worth endangering your own health & safety and you have way of knowing if these are high school kids who just want a thrill or some cracked-out junkies who might shoot you.

Cops basically do nothing about this type of crime. Unless they catch the thief in the act, it's hard to prove and generally not worth their effort. If you get anything else worth stealing, permanently label it with your name (scratch it into the plastic or whatever) so you can get identify it as stolen property and get it out of whatever pawn shop it will inevitably end up in.

For not much money, you can get fake cameras and hope they act as deterrents. It's possible the thieves won't care because they are either high or they know the cops will basically do nothing even if they have security camera footage, but at least you wouldn't be out much money.

Good luck. :/

[koshkabegemot]

As a licensed gun owner where I live, please tell your neighbour that they can't shoot one for stealing their property. That isn't considered self-defence. Unless their life is in danger or the person enters their home and makes them feel as though their life (or the life of someone else) is in imminent danger, shooting is not the answer. I'd also suggest your neighbour educate themselves about the state/local gun laws in their area