Strangers on your property

Was working on my tractor on property I own the other day (not where I live). Nice quiet, sunny day and I hear a funny noise. I look up and a stranger is walking toward me from the back of my neighbor's property. Must have walked along a path between my fence and the neighbor's horse pasture fence, over 700 ft back to where I was off the road. Guy says (in a raspy voice): "hi, do you know Brian so-and-so, I heard his cousin lives around here, I play hockey with him, our over 50 league draft is tonite, I had throat cancer......." Guy is talking constantly. After a few minutes, he walked back thru the neighbor's property. I just shook my head and went back to working on the tractor.

Later, I got to thinking how strange that was. I went up to the neighbor's the next day and kind of warned them about it. The daughter said she saw the guy park an old station wagon in their drive and walk back there. I kind of think he was casing either my place or theirs, or maybe both.

You guys have that kind of stuff happen to you? I'm thinking I should have followed him back and got his license plate number. I had my camera with me, probably could have taken a picture of him as well. I'm thinking the next time a stranger comes onto my property, I should be a little more suspicious, maybe even ask for ID. Hate to be rude but that was very odd. Or am I just being paranoid? How do you handle it?

I get folks stop by now and then. Most introduce themselves state their business and act civil. A few have been a bit odd like yours and once or twice downright weird and hostile.
The last two types get phone calls to the cops right away. And I do write down license plate numbers. The idea of a photo is a good one but could provoke a violent reaction.
If the story sounds off or bogus I ask them to leave. If they get beligerant I make the phone call right them and there. Usually gets them moving in the direction of the street right now. Only once have I felt the need to retreat and arm myself. It was NOT a good experience even though it turned our fine. (Got a VERY prompt police responce including a helecopter!)
All that said, never hesitate to call the police right away. If nothing else it will get you bumped up the list of places they need to watch more often.

Not exactly on point, but I am a carpenter. When doing a commercial build out (strip mall bay, won't be occupied until we are done), quite often someone who I do not know will show up. They are promptly greeted with a 'who are you and what are you doing here'. Never can tell what the intentions of some folks are. Greg

Might ought to keep a little .32 auto in your big overall pockets, just like your pair of pliers.

I dont carry a gun with me, but always have several in the truck. Problem is I sometimes get separated from the truck.

Too many folks on Meth nowdays acting weird.

Gene

if they get to my place their lost, most people here in the west are friendly and will stop and tell me where there trying to get and get directions , sometimes they talk about old tractors, only ever had one idiot out here, he was given a project; make the gate before i got my rifle and he got to live, he made it, any dope heads in the area must get shot and dropped down a well or something before they get out here i never see them

I live on a busy road, but my house is 700 feet back and you can't see it from the road. I usually can hear someone coming before I see them. If I'm outside I will step back out of sight and watch to see how they act not knowing they have been seen. Most times it is some salesman or the like. But one time I didn't hear anything and came around the building, the guy slammed it in reverse and backed out fast when he saw me. I wish I got a tag number, but he was moving too fast. I did write down the description of his truck.

Whenever I'm on my own or family-owned property and a total stranger comes walking up, the first words out of my mouth are, "Hi, how can I help you?" If they don't get right to the point in about 15 seconds or less, I ask them to leave. If they fail to take the hint, then I ask them if they'd rather the sheriff or the coroner escort them off the property. That usually gets the message across.

A good friend of mine always carries a glock pistol with him, on his land, in his car, anywhere. At first I thought....Hmm a little on the paranoid side but....

I have thought of myself in the same circumstances as what happened to you.
While you were working on that tractor that guy could have pulled out a gun or knife and said, gimmie your wallet. One of the best things you can do is carry pepper spray. I started a computer class at a local community college and I started carrying pepper spray. (the course gets out after 9pm and its dark and a long walk to the car). And 10% of the students are inner city folks, and some of these dudes look like gangsters. I am not taking chances and the pepper spray is in my hand as I am walking to the car.

Never had a problem with anybody like that. I usually just get into conversation with them and they usually are interesting people.

We had that happen at a vacant house not far from me. There was a white Ford van backed in and i knew there was no one living there.

I pulled my truck in so that they could not pull out and called the cops. I carry my Kimber compact 45 at all times and wasn't worried about trouble .
Well the gentelmen were not happy but the local p.d was there real quick.
Turns out they were going to strip or rob the place and they both had out standing warrents.

Our local P.D doesn't take well to inner city folk coming out to the burbs to
do crime , get my meaning .

I couldn't believe the number of times they fell down and hit there faces on the cement.

I loved watching the cops do what needed to be done , they won't come back..

I like to carry a can of WASP spray,You know so you can shoot at "WASP" right from the seat of your tractor or truck. And yes, it will shoot a good distance...And yes I keep a can handy in the shop also..Jim in N M

(quoted from post at 09:19:22 10/03/10) .......
I couldn't believe the number of times they fell down and hit there faces on the cement.
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:lol: :lol: James, that reminded me of when my wife worked in the ER of a local hospital. Said that a certain city's cops were pretty tough. Mentioned that a guy was brought in to the ER in handcuffs with a badly bloodied face. Cop just said "he fell down". When she raised her eyeybrows, the cop said "twice".

Anyway, I guess I never thought about the personal safety issue. I was more worried about the guy casing the place for stuff to steal. Come to think of it, he DID ask if I lived in the house on the other side of my property and, like an idiot, I said no, I live offsite. I think that's the mark of a scammer/con artist: they talk so fast and get you off guard that they get information out of you without you even knowing it until it's too late.

I think a trail camera mounted high on a tree is in order to watch over the stuff on my property. Also thinking about replacing the normal chain I use to chain my stuff together with a through-hardened security chain.

Also thought about pouring some concrete piers with a piece of imbedded rebar through the last link and then I can just park my equipment over the top and chain it somewhere on the bottom.

Boy, I guess I am getting paranoid. :lol:

Although it sounds like the direct, no-nonsense "what are you doing here" approach will give a good indication of intentions from what others have replied.

I've had a very similar situation happen to me. Alone on my remote, secluded property. Approached by a stranger. It did not turn out good and I was robbed, but luckily not hurt.
Thing is, my gut told me the situation was trouble but I did not pay attention to it. So I'd say, if it felt bad pay attention to that feeling and go on high alert. Better safe then sorry. I learned from my mistake the hard way.
Pete

A 38 special with a 2 inch barrel is easy to carry and conceal.Now you know why I keep one handy.Secluded places are dangerous these days.