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How to disguise a large object

2K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  farminghandyman 
#1 ·
I'm not really sure where to put this question. We recently purchased our homestead but will not be ready to make the move permanent until winter. In the meantime, we plan to visit every weekend (it is located almost 3 hours from our current home).

The land is just under 10 acres with half of that being pastures. There's a barn and a garage with lots of windows. Because we won't be living in the house full time, we want to make it look inhabited so it doesn't get broken into, so we want to keep at least part of the land mowed so it does not appear abandoned.

We have a tow behind mower and plan to buy an ATV to tow it and for other farm use. The issue is, how do we leave it down on the property safely? We are not equipped to bring it back to our current home and store it here. My husband had thought of a gps tracker, or hiding it under a cutout water tank (or something similar). But with both of those costing hundreds of dollars, we need to figure out something else. The area is very remote and we have not yet the neighbors, so I can't ask a favor of them to store on their property.

Has anyone had a clever way of disguising such a large object? Fake compost pile maybe? I suggested we put window clings or spray frost on the garage windows so they can't see inside. But my hubs thinks they would break in to see what's there anyway.
 
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#5 ·
How about camo netting from the army-navy surplus store? Then through bunch of branches on it to make it look like a burn pile.

Get some cameras. Even "dummy" look-a-like ones.

Motion sensing lights, and motion sensing switch to turn on a radio. Most thieves want to explore abandoned properties... not one that looks like someone could come drive up on them at any time.
 
#6 ·
Like the wood pile idea....
Equipment left in a remote location is always at risk.....so a brand new shiney machine....
A ratted out, muddy used machine with no battery....not so much....Just saying.
Or old tractor with mower....
Oh.... and good insurance.

Our place has been broken into once......nothing taken but a some booze....
We don't leave anything expensive there....no money or guns.
 
#7 ·
I had stuff stolen. Generator, grills, lumber, I stared to block the driveway as far from the house as possible that had no way around the driveway for trees. Thinking if they stole stuff they woukd have to carry it along way. If they really want to get in they just kick doors in. Bust windows. Had the garage door that was locked and a lock through the bar inside they backed a truck or car into the door till it folded. Like the idea of the fake wood pile.
 
#9 ·
I'd build a barn or get a shipping container you can lock up and store stuff out of the weather in.
No amount of effort will stop a dedicated thief, so just get good insurance. A locked gate on your drive and motion lights are never a bad idea either.

I have two remote properties that I am away from sometimes months at a time and (knock on wood) have never had too many issues. One of the best things I've found is to make friends with a neighbor or two, and they'll keep and eye on things for you. Tell them to drive in and check things out is something looks amiss or give you a call. In exchange I allow one guy to hunt our place and am always pretty generous with cold beers and cook outs.
 
#11 ·
Park a car or truck in front of the house, (In a country home if the transportation is missing most likely the owners are to). at least if there is a vehicle is in the drive one is not sure if there is occupancy or not, (and move it from time to time or at least preposition it, if grass is growing up under it, it is a dead give away that it is not being used).
 
#12 ·
Thanks for the advice everyone! We got insurance on the ATV just in case and we covered the windows into the garage where it is stored. We also made friends with the neighbor and told him he could park any extra vehicles on our property. We have lights on timers and even bought one of those "fake tv" lights that goes in for a few hours after dark. Next item on the list is a good driveway gate, which we need anyway. It's a fairly long distance, so we're pricing them out.
 
#13 ·
One more comment. I think if you make the place look too secure with locked gates, window shutters, posted signs, etc. you may be presenting the message ..... Hey I have valuable stuff stored here that I don't want stolen.

If a thief wants in, they are going to get in and the more locks and hardware they have to go through, just means more property damage. Have a neighbor keep an eye on the place in your absence and maintain good insurance.
 
#14 ·
I do not know if you live in a part of the country, where grain bins are common, but if one could find a smaller one, (most are not suitable for much of any thing but holding grain, (the way the doors are made on them,)
but if there common, one could "cut" a door in it suitable for the atv,

why am i suggesting a grain bin is that 99% of the time all that is in a grain bin is grain or rotting grain, only a few are suitable for any kind of storage, (as said because of the doors), find an old junk auger to set besides it, and my guess is no one would look for "valuables" in the old depalated grain bin, they would the buildings,
 
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