Vandals

[jasonfish320]

If it were me, I would look into something like this http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&Sku=Q300-2760 I once set one up concealed inside a bird house (the picture is amazing) and caught someone jacking deer on my parents land...they are a bit pricey but they will get you the tag numbers you need. Deer cameras will get you some good shots, but you will need a precise shot and clarity to get the plate numbers.. also, as someone else mentioned be cautious about putting down spikes or anything that may cause damage..you may find yourself and your homeowners insurance co. in a lawsuit.

[Abbeysdad]

Heard a story once of a fella that was tired of his roadside mailbox being damaged. He sunk an I-beam to mount his mailbox. The following winter, the plow hit it and took the wing off the plow and caused the plow to lose control. The court ruled that the homeowner had violated the highway's departments right of way and it cost the fella big bucks in damages.

Heard another story of a fella that kept having stuff stolen from his shed. He rigged a shotgun to the door. Oh he caught a thief alright, but he was charged and convicted of assault with a deadly weapon.

I 'pity the fool' that breaks into my house in the middle of the night, but the law says we can only use deadly force if we are reasonably convinced that our life is in danger. I guess you just can't bring a gun to a knife fight.

The point here, is that as much as we want to protect our property and families, there are rules of reason that will ultimately prevail.

As NoFear wisely pointed out, string razor wire and have a neighborhood kid riding their bike fall in it and you will most likely lose big time!

As much as you love your lawn, keep it in perspective. If you had an unruly teenager, would he deserve to be hurt or killed for $200 worth of property damage?

Like I said, maybe get a log, landscape timbers or some big rocks.

Edit: Oh and if you suspect a neighborhood punk - tell the neighbors, especially his parents that you've installed surveillance devices so you can have vandals prosecuted (even if you don't). Punks can often be deterred.

[Jrob78]

If your state has passed a "Castle Doctrine" you may have the right to use deadly force to protect your property. That being said, you don't have the right to rig your yard with booby traps and you will be held liable if something bad happens to a unintended person. Besides that, if something really bad were to happen to one of these kids because of something you did, your conscience might not handle it as well as you think it would.

In my opinion the cameras and physical barriers are the way to go. You don't want to open yourself up to any criminal or civil trouble. Make sure the police know what's going on, document everything, install cameras, put up some "decorative" barriers and tell the rowdy kids' parents that you will prosecute. Doing anything more is trouble you don't need.

[walkeraviator]

Originally Posted by Abbeysdad

I 'pity the fool' that breaks into my house in the middle of the night, but the law says we can only use deadly force if we are reasonably convinced that our life is in danger. I guess you just can't bring a gun to a knife fight.

.

This is why I am glad I live in Kentucky. We have castle law. If a person is not a LEO and is uininvited in your house or car you are justified in using deadly force. No duty to retreat, no reasonable threat of injury, just shoot. However, this is only valid in the house or car. A garage is not justified, and your lawn is certainly not justified (except a loophole in the law that says you can shoot them in your yard if they are burn down a barn)...

This is now up for deabte since a white guy called a black guy a name and the black guy came through the window to attack the white guys cousin in the passenger seat, and the white guy killed said black guy. So all the liberals are crying that we should have duty to retreat in this state.

Turns out... white guy...University of Louisville Baseball Player...Black guy... University of Lousiville Football player... what a top notch athletics department...

[3dkicker]

I like the barbed wire/spike strip idea. Will you get a good pic of the plates of the car/truck spinning in the yard??? You might get type the of vehicle and hopefully of the driver or passenger.

Can't do much about trash. I deal with it in my yard too. For some reason it all ends up in the ditch next to my driveway or on my lawn.

[florida fisher]

Land mines? :-D

[WaffleJaw]

Originally Posted by florida fisher

Land mines? :-D

That play Lady GaGa when you step on them