Any ideas on security for remote land and metal building?

[Melancholy Bear]

Hi everyone,
I wonder if anyone can help me with security ideas. We purchased some rural land to eventually build on. It's in another state, far from where we live currently. I'm trying to think of the best and least expensive methods of security or remote monitoring. The land has a metal building garage/pole barn partially finished with a bedroom and bathroom, with water, electricity, and heat pump. The land driveway has a gate, chains and padlocks. There are also no trespassing signs. What would be nice would be simple cameras, entry sensors, moisture sensor, and freeze sensor. The weather rarely gets below freezing there, but it would still be nice to know if the heat pump loses power in the winter. So it could be some type of loss-of-power sensor instead of a freeze sensor. A complicating fact is there is no hard-wired internet, but I know I can buy an AT&T nighthawk for LTE internet there, so I think I can set up wifi.

How do any of you handle security at a rural property which you don't visit very often? Any ideas on my situation would be appreciated.

 

[dademoss]

Welcome to the Forum! Do you have a reliable internet connection there? Phone line?

 

[Sentry18]

Welcome. Don't forget to introduce yourself in the new members section!

There are a lot of lost cost options if you get access to the internet. Someone here did a review of Wyze Cams which are $20-25 each and allow you to view your property remotely. They also make motions sensors and smart plugs which allow you to turn lights on and off remotely. All of those items can become part of a good remote home security program. Of course other companies make similar products.

You might also want to contact the local Sheriff's Office and see if they are willing to do drive by's and property checks. If not LEO's then maybe a caretaker is willing to do that for a small fee.

 

[Amish Heart]

Simply Safe that you install yourself. Or something similar. Can view it on your phone

 

[VThillman]

Well, there is always the old tried-and-true set-gun remedy.

 

[Caribou]

Simply Safe that you install yourself. Or something similar. Can view it on your phone

This should do well for you as long as you have cell service. Sliding panels and overhead tracks can cover doors and windows. Perhaps shutters that you can lock from inside.

Welcome.

 

[Terri9630]

We used simply safe for the house and had game cameras on the driveway to get any license plates should someone cut the gates chain.

 

[Supervisor42]

...There are a lot of lost cost options if you get access to the internet. Someone here did a review of Wyze Cams which are $20-25 each and allow you to view your property remotely. They also make motions sensors and smart plugs which allow you to turn lights on and off remotely. All of those items can become part of a good remote home security program. Of course other companies make similar products...

If the front gate stays locked, a camera there (real or fake), and signs like below at the gate and peppered all around would probably be the best deterrent for the buck.
BG's do not want to be on camera!

If the place is a long way from you, cameras inside of it will only provide evidence for LE of the people that successfully ripped you off.
Need to stop them at the gate.

 

[Cnsper]

This ought to keep your stuff safe..

 

[Cnsper]

If the front gate stays locked, a camera there (real or fake), and signs like below at the gate and peppered all around would probably be the best deterrent for the buck.
BG's do not want to be on camera!

If the place is a long way from you, cameras inside of it will only provide evidence for LE of the people that successfully ripped you off.
Need to stop them at the gate.

I like this one better...

 

[VThillman]

Seems like your precautions should at least discourage potential squatters. . . ?

 

[jimLE]

I seen a security sign in orlando once.in which it read..

We have a security guard 3 nights a week.now guess which 3.

 

[phideaux]

Honestly, thieves are very resourceful,
If they are robbing homes with security devices where people live....then your rural unoccupied property is easy.

I wouldn't have anything there of value.

The only thing that comes to mind is Claymore.
Or trip lines to grenades.

Jim

 

[Meerkat]

If the front gate stays locked, a camera there (real or fake), and signs like below at the gate and peppered all around would probably be the best deterrent for the buck.
BG's do not want to be on camera!

If the place is a long way from you, cameras inside of it will only provide evidence for LE of the people that successfully ripped you off.
Need to stop them at the gate.

Thats what I would do but of course can't monitor it. I thought of low cost animal cameras hunters use sometimes.

 

[Meerkat]

This ought to keep your stuff safe..

View attachment 27240

Will need a good snake grabber like hubby has now to round em up when you want to go in.

 

[Weedygarden]

This ought to keep your stuff safe..

View attachment 27240

But not you when you go there!

 

[Meerkat]

But not you when you go there!

Don't expect any romance going on long as snakes are in rwsidence either.

 

[hiwall]

Make sure any signs are in both English and Spanish

 

[Cnsper]

Make sure any signs are in both English and Spanish

I would think that the crack of the bullet flying past their head would clear any sign right up no matter what language they speak.

 

[Melancholy Bear]

Some great and hilarious ideas! I like the fake camera and signs idea. I think I am going to try this: an unlocked LTE wireless router (which I will need anyway once we move there) and a Freedompop free or low cost SIM to get me internet with bare minimum data; the VOIP phone service, called Ooma, now has DIY sensors and telephone/security base fairly reasonably that doesn't require monitoring or a monthly service to send notifications to my phone. Obviously, bare minimum data won't allow any cameras. I need to look into the trail camera idea. And we'll store nothing of value.

 

[The Lazy L]

Some great and hilarious ideas! I like the fake camera and signs idea. I think I am going to try this: an unlocked LTE wireless router (which I will need anyway once we move there) and a Freedompop free or low cost SIM to get me internet with bare minimum data; the VOIP phone service, called Ooma, now has DIY sensors and telephone/security base fairly reasonably that doesn't require monitoring or a monthly service to send notifications to my phone. Obviously, bare minimum data won't allow any cameras. I need to look into the trail camera idea. And we'll store nothing of value.

What's the plan for responding to valid and false alarms?

 

[Melancholy Bear]

What's the plan for responding to valid and false alarms?

Firstly, meeting the neighbors and sheriff. Possibly calling one of them. Or praying... Guess I could install a phone on the Ooma device and call the bandits and talk to them about what they're taking.

 

[Caribou]

I always thought it would be fun to put a GPS tracker in something that was likely to be stolen. A knock on the door by the cops would place the perp on a crime holiday for a bit.

 

[Patchouli]

I always thought it would be fun to put a GPS tracker in something that was likely to be stolen. A knock on the door by the cops would place the perp on a crime holiday for a bit.

In some states that could be called entrapment.

 

[Terri9630]

In some states that could be called entrapment.

Its only entrapment if you are actually trying to get them to take it.

 

[Grizzleyette___Adams]

Welcome to here Bear!

If it gets too tedious to transport your valuables in and out every time you visit your place, you may want to consider this ingenious cache idea. It is the 5th (and last presentation) in the video in the first post of the following thread:

https://www.homesteadingforum.org/t...ushcraft-shelters-and-a-great-cache-too.6971/

You could stash a lot of stuff in something like this, and with a few modifications, you could make it waterproof.

 

[Patchouli]

Its only entrapment if you are actually trying to get them to take it.

I think I meant in liberal states where snowflakes live

 

[Terri9630]

Ahh, now that makes sense.

I think I meant in liberal states where snowflakes live

 

[Curmudgeon]

I need to look into the trail camera idea.

That's what I was thinking. I guess it depends on how many you need/want. The newer trail cams can be had for around 300 apiece, and a 4GB data plan for about 75 a year. Anytime they detect movement a pic will be taken and sent to your email, smart phone etc depending on how you set it up.

I would post the property as being under video surveillance, mount some fake cams here and there and incorporate the trail cams in strategic areas that you really want to cover.

Example:

https://www.amazon.com/Spartan-Vers...-Wireless/dp/B00XNJXVI8?tag=advancedhunter-20

Also, depending on the location, perhaps there might be a property management company close by that could check on the property for you at a reasonable cost.

 

[Sentry18]

Its only entrapment if you are actually trying to get them to take it.

It's only entrapment if an agent of the government gets a person, who otherwise would not commit a crime, to take it.