Just scare them off, repeatedly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chris
I'm a big believe in our constitution.
I have a John McCain sign in our yard, I've been a supporter of his for 8 years, had the sign up since January.
It has been stolen three times, including the last two days. Pisses me off. People need to learn that freedom of speech is not just for people who agree with you. It may be a cheap item to steal or destroy, but doing what amounts to a violent act to onstruct someone else's constitutional rights is one of the worst things a true freedom loving american can do.
These people are so lucky I haven't seen them do it, yesterday I moved the sign so it is more visible in the windows, if I ever look out and catch someone, they are going to end up in tears.
But its on now, anyone have any ideas for booby traps?
I read somewhere where a lady wired hers to an electric fence, booya, that'd work, but I don't have en electric fence.
I thought about discretely attaching razors or needles to the sign so if it is abruptly grabbed it'll hurt. I also read where someone put a thin layer of vasoline all over it.
Right now, I'm setting up video surveillance. The election is still months away, this stuff is only going to get worse.
Electric fence idea and anything remotely related to it will land you in jail. However, I would rig up some security lights on a motion detector and wire an audible alarm into the circuit. Anyone approaching the sign and the lights go on and alarm sounds. What you really want to do is to prevent your sign from being stolen, not physically asault whoever is doing it. That might get you into legal trouble too. Surveilance video is fine too if you want to prosecute them but that gets expensive both for the equipment and the court costs, and for what? a sign?
The common sense tactic for all burglaries and trespass is only to prevent the purpetrators from doing what their intent is on your property. To scare them off in other words, or prevent entry. To 'teach them a lesson' is your own ego and macho talking, doesn't make sense.
Just some advice from my many years of experience in Commercial Security. :D
Well, as long as we're on the subject...
when I was in my late teens my brother & I were out in our yard when a 9 yr. old from next door, hiding behind our hedge, thought it would be funny to throw an old piece of an electrical circuit board over our fence! He was hiding behind the hedge but we could still see his feet.:rolleyes: My kid brother was angry & wanted to confront him but I made motions to stay quiet & then, loud enough for the youngster to hear, said: "Oh, wow! Look Kenny, do you know what this is!" He fell into it & said "No! What is it?" I said: "You see this piece here, all wrapped up with copper wire? (maybe about an ounce, if that) That's the armature & it's made of copper wire! Do you know how much copper wire is worth?" He said "no" & I responded: "a lot! This is worth a lot of money!" As if on cue the kid next door pops up from behind the hedge looking all innocent, asking: "Hey, did you guys find a wierd-looking piece of metal by any chance?" I hid it behind my back and asked: "Why?" He looked all angry & said: "Because we lost it & it's worth a lot of money!" I held it up & asked: "Is this it?" He said yeah, & that if I didn't return it to him he was going to the law!:D Dispite my brother's protests I handed it back to him with the warning that if I ever found it in my yard again I was going to sell it! After he left my brother asked me why I gave it back to him? I said: "Can you imagine how he's going to feel when he goes to all the trouble of going down to a the salvage yard, only to find out it isn't worth anything? That was to good to pass up!" :D He never threw anything else into our yard & I never did hear if he tried to sell that piece of crap or not. Probably set it aside to do later & forgot about it!
My point is that the others are right about booby traps. Sadly, the law's view is that the health & well-being of a perpetrator is of more value than any property that might be in danger of being stolen. I would, 1st, post "No Trespassing" signs up where they could be seen. If you lived in Colorado I would add the line: "Survivors will be prosecuted!" along with: "This property protetced by Smith & Wesson!" However, in this case I like the idea of the infra-red trigger that turns on a couple of flood lights as soon as anybody gets in the proximity of the sign. That really freaks people out! I would also run an ad in the local newspaper that reads something like this: "To the idiots who violated my constitutional rights by tearing up the "Pro-McCain" sign in my yard. I just want you to know that I understand why you would do that. If I supported the loser you did I'd do anything in my power to help him/her, including trampling the rights of other Americans, there-by demonstrating for all to see the true ideals that my candidate stands for; ergo no American has the right to "Free-Choice"! Your actions betray your fear! That is so sad.:(
Running an ad like this will cost a bit, but is cheaper than a lawsuit protecting those who would trample your rights. You might come up with a better ad, but please keep us posted so we know the "411".
