late night visitor

i live in washington state, on a piece of property that is posted. on a few occasions, i have had a visitor between 3:00 and 4:00 am that cruises through with parking lights on. the way the driveways are, i'm only aware of it when he is on the way back out. the house is about 800 feet from the road. any options on warning systems? if i'm able to catch this guy, what are my options? i'm assuming i can't push him into a hole with the cat, probably can't shoot his tires out, without a assult charge. the house is still under constuction, thus i'm not there all of the time. i really want this guy. thanks

Gate the property with a metal gate and chain lock.
Next to the gate for 20 feet on each side put fence post sockets (too be used in the future for building a fence) that are grass top high and about 5 feet apart. Nice brown rusty schedule 80-2 Inch pipe sockets about 4 feet in the ground. Jim

If he see's a vehicle he probably doesn't stop. I would block off the entrance if you can. Someone broke into a rental home and removed all the copper pipe over in the next county. They didn't shutoff the water and the basement flooded. Hal

It is the same guy right?
Maybe go out there with an shotgun and put it in his face. Scare the bejesus out of him. Get license plate too, turn into the cops.
Is anything missing, yet?

Is your mailbox up yet? Put the mailbox up and it will look like someone is living there. Without it's just a 800 foot field drive to explore.

Game-trail camera? Set up where you can get his license plate? Probably checking your place out for the most opportune time to move in and steal you blind. You have every reason to be concerned.

Given that the house is under construction there would be nothing unusual about several 2x4's lying around with nails in them that just might puncture a tire or four. That is for the times you aren't around. For the times you are a couple of NO TRESPASSING signs and a confrontation with someone out coon hunting (or chose your own critter) holding a shotgun ought to put the fear into them.

have mailbox and when i'm there my truck is visable from the road. i also leave a light on in the house, but am still sleeping in a motorhome next to the shop. that's what really makes me feel like i'm being violated. they know i'm there.

I used to have a problem with the neighbor's boys riding dirt bikes through my hay fields and woods as soon as I left home. I fixed up some 2x6 lumber with nails and buried them in the trails. You have to remember exactly where you put them. That quick fix solved my problems. It might discourage your intruder also. Ellis

I'm with Ray P(MI) be sure your no trespassing signs are compliant with requirements of the law and record him with the game trail camera passing the signs. perhaps not as much fun as some other suggestions but more likely to bring long term satisfaction.

Get a trail camera from Cabellas set it high where he can't get to it set it ti flash not IR this worked really good on my Christmas tree stand. Once theory see that have their picture they don't come back.
Walt

Construction debris, ie boards with nails, broken concrete bocks, newly dug holes and trenches across roadways, earthmoving equipment, spike drags lying upside down, etc are always being moved around and left out on construction sites and sitting where a stranger might not notice until it was too late, esp at night... nudge nudge wink wink... be carefull!

If it is that far off the road, I would cable and lock the driveway, with a metal sign hanging from the cable that reads NO TRESPASSING. If your ground is anything like mine is right now, if they drive off the established gravel driveway, they might very well get stuck in the mud. This time of year is also a great time to pound in metal T posts, as they go in really easily unless you have rock. Some barb wire on the posts will usually discourage all but the most determined thieves, and those will get in no matter what you do.

Are you living there? If so, you could get an inexpensive security camera and hook it up to a VCR. If there are some lights on, the camera might at least give you a chance to get the license number and description of the suspect vehicle.

If my memory of Washington state law is correct, signs need to say NO TRESPASSING. Signs that say something like POSTED or keep out might not allow a prosecution for trespassing.

Although the driving around without headlights on is very suspicious, it is hard to say just who is coming on your property. It could be lovers looking for a place to park or it even could be law enforcement officers prowl checking.

In my semi-rural area, lots of people have put up gates that block their driveways. Some have electric openers but most are manually operated. Some are really elaborate and probably cost a lot of money, but some others probably only cost a couple of hundred dollars to set up. Dealing with a gate or cable all the time is a hassle, but it appears that it might be necessary or at least a good idea.

Unless a burglar or thief knows what he is looking for is at a particular location, he will probably pass a place that is difficult to get to or which looks like it might be a place where he would get caught, and instead will go to some place that is easier and safer. Good luck!

If it is that far off the road, I would cable and lock the driveway, with a metal sign hanging from the cable that reads NO TRESPASSING. If your ground is anything like mine is right now, if they drive off the established gravel driveway, they might very well get stuck in the mud. This time of year is also a great time to pound in metal T posts, as they go in really easily unless you have rock. Some barb wire on the posts will usually discourage all but the most determined thieves, and those will get in no matter what you do.

Are you living there? If so, you could get an inexpensive security camera and hook it up to a VCR. If there are some lights on, the camera might at least give you a chance to get the license number and description of the suspect vehicle.

If my memory of Washington state law is correct, signs need to say NO TRESPASSING. Signs that say something like POSTED or keep out might not allow a prosecution for trespassing.

Although the driving around without headlights on is very suspicious, it is hard to say just who is coming on your property. It could be lovers looking for a place to park or it even could be law enforcement officers prowl checking.

In my semi-rural area, lots of people have put up gates that block their driveways. Some have electric openers but most are manually operated. Some are really elaborate and probably cost a lot of money, but some others probably only cost a couple of hundred dollars to set up. Dealing with a gate or cable all the time is a hassle, but it appears that it might be necessary or at least a good idea.

Unless a burglar or thief knows what he is looking for is at a particular location, he will probably pass a place that is difficult to get to or which looks like it might be a place where he would get caught, and instead will go to some place that is easier and safer. Good luck!

id make sure it isnt the law on routine patrol first, if your sure it is a tresspasser, just streach a chain across the road where he cant get down it, if he cant get in, most people that are up to no good are too lazy to get out and walk up the road,

Check your local laws, in some states coming onto a construction sight after hours is a trespass violation even if it's not posted. The idea is twofold, that in a construction site it is not possible for a property owner to provide a normal level of security for their personal property AND it is not safe for folks to be wandering around a construction site especially after dark, there are to many holes, trip hazards and depending on the stage of construction adequate barriers, handrails and other protective devices. The assumption is someone coming on site after hours is up to nefarious activity or endangering themselves. Leaving you job site less than tidy may also discourage unwanted visitors.

All the home stores sell a wireless driveway alert system it's just a photo eye that dings inside your house as soon as something breaks the beam. I would put it at end of drive to alert you when he's on way in so you can go out and great him

No need for all this confrontational, destructive stuff at this point. That may only serve to escalate the situation.

The first suggestion was the best. Get a gate and lock it up.

No, Guru, no shotguns in the face in Washington. Prosecutors lodge a lot of "display of firearm" charges here, and its a felony. And if he's up to no good, you're a lot easier target outside a dark car, than he is in it.

Lots of technology out there, set up something to get a pic of his license plate. Hopefully you've already lodged a complaint with the Sheriff, so when you come up with a license number, they will at least run it and see if its one of the usual suspects.

Someone mentioned No Trespassing signs- thats what you need. Cops won't arrest a trespasser unless he has passed a No Trespassing sign.

You can get a wireless driveway alarm for less than $100 and a good Infra-red game camera for around $250. Alarm will let you know they are coming, and the camera will get his photo day or night.

I Think while you are gone I would leave some scraps of 2x6's with nails burried in the gravel.

Gene

Is there a chance it is the law?? I have spotlighted several Sheriff Deputies, even a trooper in the wee hours of the night driving slowly by on the county road in front of my house, sometimes they even just sit there! Closest neighbor is a mile away. I often fall asleep in front of the TV and the dogs see them somehow go by, lights completely out, bark and wake me up. 5 million candle power on a trooper or deputy, right through the driver's window will get their attention. LOL. They turn on their headlights and drive off. Nobody ever came to the house to confront me........
Wonder if they just wanted to watch some free TV???

I read though all the replies and there are some really good suggestions. I love all the knowledge you guys put forward. We've lived out in the country for six years now and have experienced a lot of after hours activities too. One warm summer night, we had the windows open in the bedroom and about 1:00 was awakened by someone walking though our yard and going back to our windbreak. I pulled on my pants and grabbed my long metal 6 battery long nightstick like flashlight and went out to meet them. They claimed they were looking for their dog that didn't come home...one of the boys was holding a cell phone and I asked him to give me his number and I would call him if I saw any dogs around. I called the number a few minutes later...not a valid number.
Oh yeah...and we had an amorous couple that was meeting up in the early morning hours to make a 'love connection', right on the gravel road between my house and the neighbors. A few calls to the sherrif's dept. finally forced them to find a different rendezvous.

A low light security camera set up in a bush near the driveway he travels wont flash so he won't know he was caught. could get his license plate for you.
Best to go for the Black and white Higher resoulution

Wireless alarm at entrance so you know he"s coming, and the rest is easy. When he gets close, hit him with a spotlight. Too bad you can"t buy real M-80"s anymore. A couple of those tossed behind him in the dark would get his attention.

A few land mines would cure the problem. But then there is the mess to clean up. It is a shame how many boards with nails in them. Are just about everywhere around a construction site.

If he is there at 4AM with the lights off. He is checking things out.Camera or a spotlight in the face just might put an end to his early morning rides.

I bought a farm a few years ago, and we owned it almost a year before we moved in. I had some tools stolen, so i bought a trail camera and mounted it on a tree by the driveway. At night you could tell the model and make of the vehicle, but couldn't read the license plate. I was amazed how many people came in the driveway that I didn't know. I'd say a car or so a week. A freind had tools stolen in daylight, heard the noise and ran out, got within feet of the car as it took off, and gave the make, model, color, and 1st 3 digits of the license plate to the police. They could not find them, so if the police are going to help, you probably need a full plate number.
Josh

A locked chain or gate across the drive is probably your best bet. A trail camera or two is also a good idea, especially one camera pointed down the drive to record the vehicle both entering and leaving.

I've wired a motion detector to turn on flood lights. That has spooked some to leave fast.

If the tag was legit, it takes a little time to narrow it down and leg work to eliminate the innocent. Sounds like it was too much work for them or they didn't want to deal with it. if you got insurance and if it is only for "a few tools", they seem to be more eager to provide you with the paperwork for the insurance then to investigate. Unless it's election time.....sad, sometimes.

there is a cheap outfit called a wireless drivway alarm. a sensor at the end of the driveway activates a alarm in the house. if you accidentaly leave a upside down spike tooth drag or a plank with spikes in the driveway might help also.