Best way to block access

[Michael W. Smith]

I bought from my Dad's estate a 40 acre piece of property. Sometime between his death and my buying it, someone went there and loaded two junk cars (which was fine with me - less for me to clean up.)

However, since I became owner, I've had cinder blocks taken from the old house foundation (the house has fallen down), and not that I really needed the blocks for anything the fact is someone stole from me. There are still some there so if I need them I can get them.

What is surprising is the "driveway" up to the house site is a very steep hill. I'm not sure how they got a truck up there to take the junk cars, but to get the cinder blocks, they parked at the road down below the property and wheelbarrowed the cinder blocks to the road. (Hey, they did work to get them.)

The driveway is mostly grown up now, several briars across it, so no one seems to drive up the curved driveway, but they park at the very end of the driveway and "park". I've put small logs up with branches across the end of the driveway, and somebody just keep moving them.

I'm tired of picking up garbage (pop cans, used condoms, condom wrappers, etc.) So what is the best way to block the access of the driveway? A chain? Posts?

The property is about a 10 minute drive from my house, and I suspect this is going on late evenings on Fridays and Saturdays and I do try to drop by when I have time trying to catch someone.

There is an old road that goes past the driveway and property (where I believe parties go on past it). The road has no winter maintainance and currently is blocked in the middle of it because the bridge is no longer safe and the township, county, and state are arguing who actually owns the bridge and who's problem it is to fix. (I'm guessing it won't ever get fixed as there are no houses on that.) In fact, I've been contemplating checking with the other two property owners to see if they are interested in getting the "road" given up by the township so we can block off all access - if they would even be willing to do it.

With no houses or neighbors around, I'm afraid if I put up posts or chain, the posts will just be torn down, and the chain will be cut. I'm not interested in blocking it with a log or large stone as the electric company does have an electric line going across the property and they need access to it (although I highly doubt they've been to the site within the last 5 years.)

I have no trespassing signs to put up, but figure those will just be torn down as well since my "visual" block of branches across stumps hasn't stopped the people from removing them so they can park there.

I highly doubt the state police will monitor the area.

So, what is the best way to stop the "parking" and littering at the end of the driveway?

[fordy]

Originally Posted by Michael W. Smith

I bought from my Dad's estate a 40 acre piece of property. Sometime between his death and my buying it, someone went there and loaded two junk cars (which was fine with me - less for me to clean up.)

However, since I became owner, I've had cinder blocks taken from the old house foundation (the house has fallen down), and not that I really needed the blocks for anything the fact is someone stole from me. There are still some there so if I need them I can get them.

What is surprising is the "driveway" up to the house site is a very steep hill. I'm not sure how they got a truck up there to take the junk cars, but to get the cinder blocks, they parked at the road down below the property and wheelbarrowed the cinder blocks to the road. (Hey, they did work to get them.)

The driveway is mostly grown up now, several briars across it, so no one seems to drive up the curved driveway, but they park at the very end of the driveway and "park". I've put small logs up with branches across the end of the driveway, and somebody just keep moving them.

I'm tired of picking up garbage (pop cans, used condoms, condom wrappers, etc.) So what is the best way to block the access of the driveway? A chain? Posts?

The property is about a 10 minute drive from my house, and I suspect this is going on late evenings on Fridays and Saturdays and I do try to drop by when I have time trying to catch someone.

There is an old road that goes past the driveway and property (where I believe parties go on past it). The road has no winter maintainance and currently is blocked in the middle of it because the bridge is no longer safe and the township, county, and state are arguing who actually owns the bridge and who's problem it is to fix. (I'm guessing it won't ever get fixed as there are no houses on that.) In fact, I've been contemplating checking with the other two property owners to see if they are interested in getting the "road" given up by the township so we can block off all access - if they would even be willing to do it.

With no houses or neighbors around, I'm afraid if I put up posts or chain, the posts will just be torn down, and the chain will be cut. I'm not interested in blocking it with a log or large stone as the electric company does have an electric line going across the property and they need access to it (although I highly doubt they've been to the site within the last 5 years.)

I have no trespassing signs to put up, but figure those will just be torn down as well since my "visual" block of branches across stumps hasn't stopped the people from removing them so they can park there.

I highly doubt the state police will monitor the area.

So, what is the best way to stop the "parking" and littering at the end of the driveway?

................Invest in some cameras and capture the trespassers as they ingress your property , take the Evidence too local sheriff and file charges ! , fordy

[texican]

Anything that you can install that can be 'moved' by you, can be moved just as or even more easily by others (if they're professionals). Chains, gates, logs, are just for honest folks. Anyone wanting in can move em.

Now, if you don't plan on being there for a while, nothing beats a good old fashioned backhoe, a six foot deep trench six feet wide... will keep everyone (except someone with a backhoe, and most folks don't carry them around in the back of their trucks) from using the road.

There's absolutely nothing you can do about folks walking in and taking stuff out by foot.... without being there to stop them.

edited to add: Saw Fordy's post... some of the local outlaws will search for the cameras if they're doing illegal activities... and steal the cameras... sometimes the cameras are worth more than the stuff being 'borrowed'...

[jmtinmi]

Land Mines?

[Bandit]

Find a friend with a dump truck , fill it with boulders and when someone is in there , just dump at at the start of the driveway .
If they are bringing the blocks down to the road , they were there more than a few min.
As far as blocking it , look how the Nat. Forest or power companies block there roads , a couple of welded steel post and steel pipes with the padlock hidden . You could buy or have one built locally for you
http://www.van-bergen.net/no_trespassing.jpg
http://acmegates.com/galler34.jpg ( Sold as a Kit for $1100.00 )
http://acmegates.com/gallery.htm ( its the last one pictured )
Bob

[Pops2]

anyone know how much the tire cutters are they use at pay to park places? you know the ones that are safe one way but not the other.

[Michael W. Smith]

Originally Posted by jmtinmi

Land Mines?

Oh, I've thought about the nails through the board thing and "somehow" it just ended up at the end of the driveway. Of course, if I get caught doing it, or someone gets hurt, then I'll be the one with a problem.

I've thought of the cameras, but also figure if the cameras are noticed, they will be gone too.

Perhaps I should put the no tresspassing sign right in the middle of the driveway and have a camera to "catch" the individual who decides they aren't trespassing?

It's sad when people don't respect other people's property!

[Bandit]

Great idea Pops , how about hiding by the driveway on a few nites and after someone goes in , lay a couple of plywood strips in the road with nails pointing up ( heck they could of been thrown there by someone dumping trash LOL ) then quietly slip away to drive up shining one of those extra bright spot lights up into the woods , or even better from the back end of the property , they will flea as fast as they can.
We did that as kids on a woods road with 55 gal. drums laid on the ground over a rise in the road , You should of heard the noise they made .
25 million candlepower should do the job
http://www.amazon.com/Million-Candle.../dp/B0025P299S

[volleypc]

Don't go with the nails through the boards.. all that will do is prompt someone to do it somewhere else on site so you will end up with the nails on your tires. Deer Game Cameras are pretty reasonable now. I suggest you post them on the site. I also have started posting Caution - Honey Bee Signs on the property..something simular to this http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...F8H-8AbtopSoCg

[fantasymaker]

Originally Posted by Michael W. Smith

The property is about a 10 minute drive from my house, and I suspect this is going on late evenings on Fridays and Saturdays and I do try to drop by when I have time trying to catch someone.

There are cameras available that are veiwable over the internet you might want to look into them.
The truth is if you dont live here there is very little you can do.
Luckily it doesent really look like your getting malicous damage Id guess that most of it is people thinking that they are helping to clean up a abandoned place.
Its a process thats been going on for thousands of years.

[Bandit]

Michael
I can bring out 18 55 gal. plastic drums padlocked together on a long chain . It would almost be worth the fun to bring them out , lock one end of the chain to a tree and pull them off the trailer , after someone goes up the driveway .
Bob

[Wis Bang 2]

The PA DCNR uses large rocks across roads they no longer use. Their pipe gate w/ a hidden lock is tough to get thru as long as the sides are blocked w/ the same large rocks.

If I made a pipe gate, I would fill the pipes in key places w/ Sakrete mix to defeat a sawzall as the battery powered ones are all you need to cut the pipe.

You won't stop anyone who really wants to get in, locks and similar technology only stops honest people...I was gonna leave a sign, only visible from the inner driveway area, for the guy leaving the Mr. Magnum condoms & wrappers saying he should check out his night vision pictures on PAdeercams.net but he stopped using my driveway before I got the chance.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Originally Posted by texican

Now, if you don't plan on being there for a while, nothing beats a good old fashioned backhoe, a six foot deep trench six feet wide... will keep everyone (except someone with a backhoe, and most folks don't carry them around in the back of their trucks) from using the road.

...

This is what the forest service does around here. They call them "tank traps" and they seem to work very well.

[Common Tator]

I love the backhoe idea! If you roll up to your place with the backhoe, and find the trespassers are parked there, you can use the backhoe to express your displeasure with their trespassing!



Or, you could get a junk car and do this with it, and add a sign "This was the last trespasser here".

[The Paw]

Your response should be proportionate to the degree of the problem. IMHO, most of the "solutions" require far more time and energy than warranted, and may only escalate the problem.

If you put in posts and chains, they may cut the chains, but the casual trespasser may just move somewhere easier, ie. down the dead end road you mention.

If they are willing to wheelbarrow cinder blocks down the hill, there ain't much you can do if you aren't living on the property, but seriously, how big a deal is losing some old cinder blocks? Sometimes a sign will be enough to deter someone who tells themself the place is "abandoned" and good cinder blocks are going to waste...

You don't need a foolproof solution, you just need a solution that diverts most of the fools...

[Joshie]

Look for a camera that can be bolted and cannot be removed without chopping down the tree. Hide it well.

[fishhead]

If the driveway is weedy you could lay a 20' length of barbed wire in a tire rut. After they wrap that around the axle a hundred times they won't be going anywhere for a long time. Put up a no trespassing sign then they are fair game.

That will also work on the electric company vehicle so make sure they know to call you EVERY time they want to cross your property so you can move it off the road.

[Navotifarm]

Hunting season is almost here. Legal official season, that is. Talk with your game warden. They have some very devious tricks including setting up a stuffed deer and waiting for some road shooter to try to blow it away or extreme knowledge as to hiding cameras. They may have some particular scofflaws in mind they want to catch. Find out your regulations for posting your property. Signs get torn down but there's orange or aluminum paint on marker trees. You really need to complain to the sheriff and game warden, then catch the trespassers/thieves in the act before they escalate theft to arson or the kids with the condoms forget them and increase the surplus population of your county. Creep around in person. leave out something attractive for them to steal which will give them a good spray of perfume or indelible dye. Set camera traps. Get photos of them with date and time. You need a valid witness. However, the idea of the powerful light is too cruel. You could blind some silly kids for life.

Alternatively, lease your land to a group of hunters and let THEM post and defend it.

You want to protect the access as it exists so you don't lose it, but you want to keep thieves and poachers off. a delicate balance.

[fantasymaker]

Just saw this at a friends not sure if Id like to try it..
He took a apparently unopened 5 gallon barrel of oil put 3 gallons of water in it and a large sugar disk set so that was a inch above the water, That supported a bunch of carbide.
When he sent a buddy for the bucket he carried it back and set it down it sat there a wile before it suddenly blazed up.
Im sure it would be quite a thrill inthe backseat of a theifs car.

[palani]

Union guys used to make these inexpensive gadgets called "jack rocks". Take two staples (fencing type) and weld them together so no matter which way they land one spike will stick up.

Very effective for puncturing tires.

Pick them up by dragging a magnet on the front of the car where the tires run.