There are many ways to prevent looters from entering your home or to deter them from trying.
You can use traps, cameras, lights, and other methods which have been written about extensively, but there are several ways that you can deter someone from trying to loot your home that you may not have ever thought of.
Signs
One way to deter someone from looting your home is to convince them that it would be unwise to make an attempt.
Posting signs around your property is a great way to inform anyone approaching the house that there are going to be obstacles in their way.
The signs you post don’t have to be true; if you have a chain link fence around your property, you can post a sign that says ‘Danger Electrified Fence.’
While it may not deter everyone, most people will not want to test that claim in case it happens to be true.
A few examples of signs that can act as a deterrent are:
- Guard dog on duty
- Premises under video surveillance
- This home is insured by Smith and Wesson
- Trespassers will be shot
⇒ Why You Should Never Put A Tall Fence Around Your House
The critical thing to remember is that being so overt about your home being occupied and well-defended should only be considered in circumstances where looting appears to be rampant and indiscriminate.
Don’t Look Like A Victim
One way to deter looters, that may be our current neighbors, is to never look like a victim starting well before SHTF. Walk around with your head up and shoulders back, always being aware of your surroundings.
When you exercise, ensure people in the neighborhood see you so they know you are fit. If you practice martial arts, don’t hide that fact; ensure that the people around you know you are training to defend yourself.
Without disclosing how many firearms you have, you can drop into conversation that you train with firearms regularly. If you win any shooting competitions, you can also drop that into conversation with your neighbors.
If you are proficient in firearms, offering to take your neighbor out shooting is an excellent way to show them how skilled you are without seeming threatening.
If your neighbors see you as someone who should not be messed with, they will be less likely to target your home for looting.
Fake Cameras And Security Devices
Since video surveillance is so affordable, there is no reason why you should not have the perimeter of your home covered by video surveillance.
Related: 9 Home Security Mistakes That You Are Probably Making Right Now
However, even if you have complete surveillance coverage, adding a few fake cameras in visible locations will give anyone approaching the building the impression that they are under more surveillance than they are actually under.
Likewise, you could install fake security devices as decoys to funnel looters into a particular area or deter them altogether. For example, fake motion sensors, trip wires, or visible alarm devices can divert attention from hidden devices.
Audio Traps
There are a lot of traps that one could set up to alert the people inside the home to anyone approaching the house.
Another type of trap that you could set would be one that, when triggered, plays an audio file through a hidden speaker. The sound played could be simply a loud siren or, better yet, your voice challenging the intruder.
The trigger for the trap can be a pressure switch, tripwire, motion sensor, or anything else you can think of.
Dogs
When your dog scrambles to bark at everyone who comes to the front door or walks by the house, it can be more than a little irritating and many people will train their pups not to bark.
However, I always recommend encouraging your dog to bark whenever someone approaches, regardless of who they are.
Ideally, we want our canine companions to believe that their job is to guard us and the home so that they will be woken from a dead sleep whenever they hear footsteps outside or someone knocking.
Related: The Best Way to Train Your Dog For Hunting And Security
The great thing about the sound of a barking dog coming from inside the home is that no one can see how big the dog is or whether or not their tail is wagging furiously.
Any would-be looters would be left with the understanding that entering the house may result in being attacked by an angry fur missile. If you do not have a dog, you can use an audio trap that plays the sound of a dog barking and growling.
Making The Property Look Looted
Looters will probably pass by any houses that look like they have already been ransacked. All you need to do is spread a few household items, papers, boxes, etc., around the front of the property.
The goal is to make it look like someone went into the home, grabbed a bunch of stuff and discarded whatever they didn’t find value in on the front lawn.
Another thing you can do is spray paint some graffiti around the house to send home the point that unsavory characters have already been inside, and the home has been looted already.
Even if the looters decide to see if anything is worth looting, they will do so, assuming that the house is empty and you can take the looters by surprise.
Obvious Barricades
Typically, when preparing our homes against looters, we aim not to make our preparations obvious. The countermeasures we deploy usually work best if the people who walk into them are unaware of their existence.
There is a time and a place to fly under the radar, not drawing any attention. However, there will be a time that you may want anyone approaching the house to know you are ready for them. An excellent way to do that is to barricade your home’s entrances and windows and make it obvious that getting into your home will be very difficult.
Heavy shutters or thick plywood over the windows with shooting ports cut into them will announce to anyone approaching that you have put some serious thought into hardening the structure.
These were six looter deterrents that I was able to come up with that many people may not have considered. But, of course, there are many other ways to deter looters; the only real limiting factor for coming up with new and inventive ways to do so is your imagination.
At the end of the day, when faced with looting in your neighborhood, you will have to be creative and adaptable to deter people from seeing your house as a target.
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if you don’t have a dog you can put a large dog dish on the porch and maybe a dog house giving the appearance of having a furry body guard. we have 2 beagle pups that would bark someone to death and a pitbull mix that loves everyone unless you get between her and the grandkids, then shes all buisness.
Just like like
optics
not what you dont see , what you see
impressions to stop the eye of selfish ambition or the lust to get what is not thiers
I have had many occosions in the citys where God stopped me from being in the wrong place at the wrong time
Evil come s out in the Dark , Hides in disquise, does what they think they can get away with
Now and then we do have good and misguided info being rehashed from other expert websites. That sounds good on paper until the rubber hits the road.
Think twice or measure twice cut once.
The optics on diverting the looters or worse don’t matter. If someone wants to get in real bad they can eventually or fire bomb you.
Trust your gut and GOD. GOD wants us to make the right decisions not choose poorly.
Reminds me of a song by the Poppy Family – Where evil grows: Youtube
Wow gotta love the mods here…
The article is on the 99th time this is been posted this year alone.
Can we get some articles that have a ounce of originality
shocked i didn’t see “get some big work boots blah blah “
Do you take immediate action on every article that spurs an idea on a shortcoming you have?
Neither do most other people. The complaint, “You’re preaching to the choir”, or “I’ve heard this already” is not relevant. The choir, and everyone else, needs constant preaching and reminders.
Best to you
bout booby-traps;
Yeah same old same old stuff that probably worked back then. Now we have laws even in SHTF about punji stick traps. I, we or an innocent animal gets mangled by these BS traps from the ‘Nam’ era. You’ll have hell to pay.
In a situation as a neighbor trying to help the nextdoor guy out putting out a fire. And I get injured this will not end well.
Will people come to help if they are put in jeopardy of getting hurt? Don’t care if that happens to the looter, criminals in general. Don’t want my dog getting lame because of paranoia security.
Minefields and traps maybe good for the battlefield but choose wisely when setting up one.
In WWII battle areas there are teams still disarming un-exploded ordinances to this day. Places like Viet Nam still have unmarked foot traps ready to maim.
So think twice about these things, you may end up getting hurt by your own devices in a panic bugout.
Somethings to think about.
Shared these off humor ideas with Nam Husband, but then thoughts of hurting any creatures, quickly put a stop to that thought process.
If you leave the door open and sit in the dark – pretending your place has been looted – will only invite firefight after firefight after firefight – until you’re on the losing end ….
Going to be entire sub-divisions wide open to the looters looking for scraps or a place to flop for the night >>> an obviously well-defended homestead will be a clear deter ….
Bullsh*t. The district attorney will have those signs in front of a jury first thing.
Especially if the dog warning signs were up advertising a vicious dog can injure. Even in SHTF, eventually the crisis will come back to some type of law and order. Then you maybe be charge with a crime.
There have been court cases on that. It’s better to not have dog signs posted. Keep it a hidden deterrent.
Even those signs saying looters will be shot on sight. It just invites more aggression from looters. Better off not advertising, keep it stealthy.
America is a litigious society even in a chaos environment. We can disagree to disagree and still learn from each other.
Wow, never thought of that. I am going home this evening and spray painting graffiti on my brick and throw a bunch of trash in my yard.
There is no substitute for good judgement and common sense. Act and react to the situation not some “zombie” invasion fantasy.
Do not put up a “security camera” that is not monitored somewhere. A victim in the view of the camera could reasonably expect someone to be watching and come to their aid or at least call for help. Avoid the civil suit, which can be financial ruin.
Heavy shutters and plywood will only screen you from the outside.. Gunfire will not normally be stopped by much less than some serious steel.
Why give the badguy a notice/sign ? Yes, some may be deterred, but the serious badguy will take a notice as a challenge.
Notice of an aggressive dog may be another sign you want to avoid IF you have a truly dangerous dog. Most government agencies have laws requiring securing any dog known to be a threat. Lots of legal issues to simply avoid now.
Natural barriers to home entry like rose bushes or cactus in front of windows are quite effective in detering the less aggressive invasions. A storm door or locking exterior screen door in front is excellent at giving you a few moments to evualate who is outside and not give quick access to badguys who will storm in as soon as you crack the door.
Reduce the obstructions like hedges or large bushes outside so that you have a clear field of fire and aggressors don’t have a hiding place; just don’t be obvious and fit into the others in your area.
We use large growing plans and hedges with Heavy fence inside with plants outside
Best to research for your areas , be sure they can take frost, freeze, heat , drought tollerant , we learned the trial and error way
Good Fences make great neighbors
and wave of friendship and extended hands of good will get good neighbors
make good neighbors to help keep each other safe
Commonsense thinking, yes keep things stealthy, that’s a great alternative. Rambo works great in the Hollyweed movies. The people emulating Rambo more or less loose their shirt in court. The real spec-ops go stealthy not using a Ghetto blaster loud music to scare the perp. Other subtle methods works ask your uncle who did ops for the real lowdown.
All the security for home assaults are to give enough time to respond or bugout. Depending on the terrain and situation you have.
Best is Mans best friends and look up the sign laws , if not properly posted and if your not in compliance you will be sued, or jailed or taken by the idiot laws to protect criminals
depends on state
This is what should be looked at
Laws per state , requirements for posting , Dog laws, Right s of citizens , Carry laws, Concielment laws
Best Protection is Deterance and keeping access so they cannot enter easily
Barracades at open driveways, Gates , Good Fences that cannot be cut easily with signage, Rocks set apart 4′ distance so not easily driven thru for rural
Trap Ditches made to look like drainage so you dont get sued
yes , there is proper and improper requirement s
But some stop vehicles and some stop people
Rule : you cannot TRAP like the animal they are the ruthless public which are usually at that pt , dead set on thier goal , Take, STEAL , GET what they want
you must always give adequite notice or deterance to stop them 1st , notify them , then take appropiate action
Sirens, trip alarms , Beams for siren warnings , alarm systems
anything that prevents access with out endangerment
once you have no choice then , if you Shoot , must be to kill
otherwise the same scum walked to do it again
Consequence or Stopping Force
Good Points and if law enforcement is still active and you feel you have to shoot your intruder make sure you are on 911 with the line being recorded. That way law enforcement has their own recording of the incident. Makes it hard to say there was no warning and that you just shot because. Takes away most questions.
A lot of the stuff, tactics mentioned is all window dressing in SHTF. No one really knows how it will go down in America. The survival experts can’t even agree on basic scenarios given.
Now the Open Southern Border brings in a new paradigm into prepping and security.
Also in the mix are the Blue Sanctuary States with their nonsense ideology.
California is living proof of fruits and nuts. The Northern portion wants to give Blacks reparations in a State that never participated in the Civil War or Slavery. And what about all the families who never owned slaves, why should they pay?
And who is paying for the illegals living there too?
Do we think were worried about a SHTF, when we the people, let the ROT happen from within this country? We got almost all the population belonging to the union bitching about higher pay. Then solving the basic issues.
This country is ripe for a Civil War 2.0 or an invasion from China.
Commiefornia was never a slave state as you point out. They did, however, ship hundreds if not thousands of families of Japanese heritage to prison camps at the outset of WW2. The cost of lost property, businesses and freedom is enormous. Some of these people are still alive; unlike the fictional cotton pickers. There is where reparations are due !
You have to be careful about traps because a prosecutor will have a field day on you for premeditated murder and mayhem over them. If you do set traps they need to be non lethal but make approaching your house extremely difficult.Uneven ground like branches, rocks, slight depressions, with a covering of leaves to hide them. Trip wires connected to some kind of alarm to announce their presence to you without alerting them that they’ve been exposed would be good. Thorny shrubs under windows and also creating a perimeter around your property to keep them out or to funnel them into a “kill zone” would help. High lumen LED flood lights that are not powered by the house electricity and are triggered by motion sensors are a good idea. Clear away any cover that can be used to provide safety to anyone approaching your house. Make your property hard to stealthily approach.
Kidding right? There is no way you can do anything, to protect yourself, and be safe from both criminals and the criminals who protect them! What “trap” or “device” can help you if a criminal can sue and win for injuring themselves on your property when they had no business there in the first place? i.e. falling through a skylight?
Signs are just as bad. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t…you didn’t warn of the dog in the back yard, and it bit me! Or, you posted those signs because you knew the dog was vicious! No wins.
Do the best you can when the time comes and hope that things work out for the best. Be prepared to fight for your life…even against what we have always considered the good guys, up until now.
@ FARMER: sorry, war is war and it is ugly and unfair. To give money back to people who were never part of the war, taking away from those who were never in the war is not going to do anything except make the “givers” angry at the “takers” and create more problems.
Same for ANY scenario that gives money/property back to those who lost.
Prepping is about after the collapse of civilization enmass! There will not be any laws, except those morals that YOU are willing to enforce with an act of violence. I haven’t seen this post 9 times this year? WTF saw many comments that were about absolutely nothing to do with Prepping and protecting what you own. As for those who talked about local laws animal control etc. Some signs can be put up after the SHTF scenario. Along with your most dangerous traps. Very few of the comments were on the Target subject. Which is Prepping for when the SHTF and the collapse of civilization! Although Prepping has an advantage for localized events such as natural disasters. But this is not why we prep! Situational awareness is key.
I was curious, so I searched “razor wire” on Amazon. It’s surprisingly inexpensive, so I’ve ordered a few rolls and some staples. It’s the sort of thing that you don’t install unless you’re in the middle of nowhere, live in a bunker, or want to be known as “that crazy guy in the neighborhood that everyone thinks will kill them someday”. It can be added to my disaster supplies and wait for something sufficiently terrible – I’m thinking a massive EMP event. Razor wire does not keep people out, per se, but will deter casual entries to your property, and slow down a determined bad guy, at least for a few seconds, while you decide whether they merit a 5.56 hollow point or two. After a complete societal collapse, looking like ‘the crazy neighbourhood nut” might be advantageous. 😉
3/4 of my rear yard has a 6′ tall cinder bock wall, the 4th side is the rear of our home. I bought enough 18″ razor wire about eight years ago to string along the top of the wall, roughly 160′. I’ve also been saving my empty 1/2 gallon bottles of DeWars. Why? Because prior to stringing the razor wire I will break the bottles (thick glass) and cement the pieces on the top edge of the wall for added deterrent / pain. Several terracotta pots ground level with fake flowers on top and filled with old screws, nails, and a center of Tannerite sealed in waterproof wrapper. Luminescent “targets” on outside of pots. Not enough to take down the wall, but definitely enough to stop further intrusion. I’m not concerned about “booby trap” laws as these methods would be employed post-SHTF. Also, other goodies ready to be deployed out front within minutes. Main goal would be to find a dead looter, sit him / her in a lawn chair at the end of the road with a “LOOTER” sign around it’s neck.
Do you have an escape plan when you need to bugout when your compound is breached?
Hope it all works. Everyone is focused on the SHTF but what will the environment look like afterwards?
Will our security plans change as the situation unfolds?
For resupply we will also be exposed to those features when out on patrol looking for supplies.
Bunkers sound good in theory but eventually those people have to resupply. There pros and cons to those underground structures.
The assualters can find where the intake and exhaust vents are and plug them. Making the people come up to investigate, then bam! pew, pew!
If bulls had boobs, if cows could fly…if if if. EVERYTHING is an “if”? The point here is not to cover every possible issue you could face or deal with. It is to give ideas. Then guess what…YOU have to decide the proper course of action…FOR YOU AT THE MOMENT!
Dog on premises and posted combined with no tresspassing. Swamp out back, small wet deep muddy stream followed by thorny raspberry bushes all around perimeter, wild mixed with domestic, other side has alarms and cameras one electric power one battery boulders as landscaping around front line. German shepherd assorted construction and logging tools within reach then there are the things my son has from black belt training..if you heat with wood dont leave the splitting maul, ax or hatchet in reach for others.
You guys talk like these events are going to occur while society chugs along at a civil pace. We are talking about anarchy,bad men taking what they want at your expense,a breakdown of society. We are talking about desperate people taking extravagant measures simply to survive. You think you have to worry about lawyers and courts? You people need some real guidance in your thinking. I hope this is a start.
Think there are several levels of prepping interpretations going on. Some have book knowledge, some have military experience and somewhere in between. Some prepping info is based in reality and some based in La, La land fantasy. Usually from those zombie movies some know and love to distract from real situations.
Even just a little camping experience will put some of the info floating around the interest into firm retrospect of life.
Just wait til AI becomes involved in daily activities of communication. It’s been programmed by left leaning software programmers. There will be corruption from AI in what is real survival knowledge in a short period of time.
In m neck of the woods, another effective sign that could be posted is: “This Property Owned by the Arizona Militia.” I had “Arizona Militia” on the rear window of my vehicle for about a two year period. I thought it might be a good recruiting idea. Nobody ever asked about it from that angle, but nobody, and I mean NOBODY ever tailgated me. The lettering was only about an inch and a half tall, so you had to be pretty close to read it. But once seen, tailgaters would back off every time. The other interesting thing that happened was that nobody ever seemed to want to get even with me at a traffic light. But like the article and others have stated, many of these ideas are for the Stuff Hits The Fan times.
Even better signs posted with this property owned by Antifa and/or BLM. Then looters will be shot on sight.
The best way to deter looters is with a ar15 and a 1911a1!
are you deterring trespassers/looters, or taking on an invading army ?
you should be trying to avoid trouble, not make more for yourself……
if you don’t agree, there are a helluva lot better weapons to be made from items in your shed/garage, or under the kitchen sink to start your battle with.
That being said, once trouble breeches the front door, there should be no limit to protecting your home.
A tip given to me by my Mother, of all people, was to put plants that are not fun to run into in places you want to deter people. She used spikey bromeliads underneath windows and along property lines. (think cacti, bougainvillea, etc) She was pretty sly and definitely a survivor! One from the ‘greatest gen.’
What is a militia?
Federal and state laws generally use the term “militia” to refer to all able-bodied residents between certain ages who
may be called forth by the government to defend the United States or an individual state. See 10 U.S.C. § 246.
When not called forth, they are sometimes referred to as the “unorganized militia.” A group of people who
consider themselves part of the able-bodied residents referred to as members of the militia under state or federal
law is not legally permitted to activate itself for duty. A private militia that attempts to activate itself for duty,
outside of the authority of the state or federal government, is illegal.
How do I know if a group of armed people is an unauthorized private militia?
Groups of armed individuals that engage in paramilitary activity or law enforcement functions without being called
forth by a governor or the federal government and without reporting to any government authority are acting as
unauthorized private militias. They sometimes train together and respond to events using firearms and other
paramilitary techniques, such as staking out tactical positions and operating in military-style formations. They often
purport to have authority to engage in military and law enforcement functions such as protecting property and
engaging in crowd control.
These groups often engage in behaviors that show their intent to act as a private militia, such as wearing militarystyle uniforms, tactical gear, or identifying insignia; wielding firearms or other weapons; and operating within a
coordinated command structure. Other factors—such as statements by leaders or members’ efforts to direct the
actions of others—also may suggest that a group is acting as a private militia. Groups of armed individuals may
engage in unauthorized militia activity even if they do not consider themselves to be “members” of a paramilitary
organization.
Does the Second Amendment protect private militias?
No. In fact, the Supreme Court decided in 1886—and repeated in 2008—that the Second Amendment “does not
prevent the prohibition of private paramilitary organizations.” District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570, 621 (2008)
(citing Presser v. Illinois, 116 U.S. 252 (1886)).
The “Unorganized Militia” are the ones that have decided that they can beckon to the call from the government in certain cases. And in certain others they may beckon to the call against the government. At their own discretion. NOT THE GOVERNMENTS.
All the rest sounds greatish…
Trap door just indie your entry door a fairly deep pit, and 5 feet of water.
Can’t climb out can’t swim out.
Works best if you design it against the storm troopers bursting in confiscate (aka STEAL) your stuff.
In the end of the world as we knit it, add in punji sticks.
Set trap door to open when there are 2-3 thugs coming in….
Possibly a second one for those thinking they will outsmart you.
Note: if you have hardwood floors, get some lego’s.
Put a BUNCH down on the floor. A BUNCH.
Makes it hard to get in quickly.
Do you assume looters don’t wear shoes
The sign that sets at the intrance to my property is simple and true…
” if you can read this, you’re in range.”
When it first went up, my home deliverys stopped, until I could passify the driver’s fears….
Planting Cactuses around the inside perimeter of your fence is another deterrent.
Thanks for insulting me by saying “you never thought of” even though you don’t know me. Actually I had already thought of most of these.
PS, this is such a worn-out, re-run topic.
If you put up a sign that says beware of dog, you set yourself up for a lawsuit because you are admitting that you have a dangerous dog. If you don’t put up a sign then you can be sued for not warning that you had a dangerous dog. But in the latter case you can plead ignorance and say that the dog never attacked anyone before.
I think there will be a short term SHTF for urban areas. The causes could be natural or planned. Rural areas will feel the effects the closer they are to the cities. Preppers might be inconvenienced by the event. When government comes back look for prosecution of those defending their possessions from the “victims”. I wouldn’t want to go down that path. You are guilty until proven innocent. A political prisoner if you fit the profile. For me, I will not skyline. I will lay low and only fight if it’s life threatening and without the ability to escape. About forty years ago I worked at a prison. Most of the convicts were from urban areas. The one thing they were afraid of was the woods. Especially at night. I hope that helps with your plans.
My deterrent will be flower pots. They will have realistic, looking fake flowers in dirt, but inside the dirt will be Tannerite. Remote control detonation or closer to the house, shoot with a rifle. It won’t be a big deterrent PRIOR but I bet survivors don’t come back! LOL
By the way, those signs that say something like this house, protected by Smith and Wesson, or trespassers, will be shot, just keep in mind that those signs have been used against homeowners in court to try to prove premeditated murder. I wouldn’t recommend using those.
Well, I just read the comments and it seems several have said similar …but anyway, here goes:
A warning about signs and dogs: I have several “cute” signs about burying bodies, getting right with your Maker, etc. HOWEVER, I’ve been told that should the worst happen and you harm or kill someone, the court can see those signs as being intent on hurting them and you become a premeditated killer.
Same with dog signs that indicate that your dog will kill…, or signs that you have guns and are ready to use them…
So, just be careful about what you post and how it will look if you have to go to court.
Also, if you save and post them only after law has been reduced or eliminated, you run the chance (a good chance) that those seeking to take from others will see it as a dare…and put you right where you DON’T want to be. A TARGET.
Reminding us to take care of the basics is not a bad thing.
Most believe they can survive anything, no matter what happens…a minor crisis is a no-brainer, but longterm SHTF like an EMP or a civil war, very few will make it all the way to the otherside.
There will be waves of survivors: innocent survivor waves first, then criminal survivor waves, and lastly the cut-throat gang waves led by former members of special ops like Rangers, Delta, and Seals, yes there are some highly skilled bad ones along with all the good ones.
Conflict avoidance has to be #1
A strategic hi-tech bunker far away from the city is #2
A lot of luck for 2 or 3 years is #3
The killer thinking is way to much. Yawl are busted just for putting that stuff on line to begin with. They always go to your on line posting right away these days. So Mr. Tannerite flower pots, who posted it twice, you are going to jail just for those posts alone if you hurt or kill anyone.
The thing is NOT TO KILL people, Looters are still people, You should be thinking about DETERING PEOPLE! If you deter them than you don’t have to deal with them so you won’t have to kill them. Hidden booby traps is NOT deterring them.
I can’t believe I just waisted so much time reading stupid gibberish that was completely useless for deterring.
I agree with plants that are stickery and large rocks in landscape that act as barriers. The doghouse was a good one.
Deter: Turn on water sprinklers. Folks don’t want to get wet. They will go to the next house. I’m gonna save the rest.
The only one I never heard of was to turn on the sprinklers.