Anti-climb wall ideas

[fattogatto]

Had a home invasion last night. Luckily the two invaders were kept in the garage with only a slight head wound here. 10 foot high walls but they were scaled. In my youth I used to have to navigate over walls that had shards of glass imbedded in the top. Notwithsanding any legal issues, anyone have any similar ideas or concepts to make a wall extremely difficult to get over?

I know you can not keep out everyone if they are determined. I want to make it more attractive elsewhere.

And, yes, it's called a Sig 40. Picking it up this afternoon.

 

[aka Larry]

Holy ****. Where do you live, South Africa? They must of wanted in pretty bad to scale a 10' wall while you were at home.

 

[OJ Bartley]

Yikes. Sorry to hear that Charlie. Hope everyone's OK. The only things I can think of are barbed (razor?) wire topping the wall and lots of motion activated lights, possibly in conjunction with cameras.

 

[fattogatto]

Got the lights, cameras going in tomorrow. Came over the wall while we were gone and waited for us to pull into garage. Don't think we were targeted but also don't think it was totally random. Opportune encounter? Gated garage/driveway with motion lights. Razor wire might be an option.

Thanks,

 

[fattogatto]

holy ****. Where do you live, south africa?

memphis

 

[Zeke]

Holy ****. Where do you live, South Africa? They must of wanted in pretty bad to scale a 10' wall while you were at home.

memphis

Same thing.

Generally protection devices intended to harm intruders can be a liability. I think sometimes we are better off facing the liability than an act of crime.

The best defense is light. I leave a fairly bright light on 24/7 in the garage and I have motion lights everywhere. The cameras you mentioned should be a very good deterrent.

 

[bczygan]

Punji Pit!

 

[evildky]

memphis

Graceland has glass embedded in the top of the walls around it.

 

[bczygan]

Actually, Nixalite spikes, for bird and animal control, would be something you could install, and have a justification for them.

http://www.nixalite.com/

 

[duneslider]

What about some big barking dogs? I would think I would prefer to avoid that.

So, they waited for you to get home to rob you? They weren't looking to get into the house and take stuff then?

 

[rlitman]

Same thing.

Generally protection devices intended to harm intruders can be a liability. I think sometimes we are better off facing the liability than an act of crime.

The best defense is light. I leave a fairly bright light on 24/7 in the garage and I have motion lights everywhere. The cameras you mentioned should be a very good deterrent.

Same thing: LOL.

Spikes on top of a fence, or broken glass bottles set into the top of a tall masonry wall do not open you up to liability. They're not an attractive nuisance, and are not a trap.
A punji pit on the other hand would surely be a liability.

Yes, motion lights are useful.

 

[G_P]

Basically anything you install that is meant to injure/kill someone who is attempting to trespass is illegal. It *****, but the criminals can and will sue you for everything you own if they get hurt climbing over your spiked wall. Some cities are even forcing people with old spiked wrought iron fences to weld steel balls onto the spikes to prevent injuries to people scaling the fence.
Around here we even have to flag any gates or cables blocking off access to property. If someone hits it and gets hurt, they can and will sue and win for you putting a gate on your own property that is not brightly marked.

 

[HoosierMark]

I am sure you will get a lot of ideas here. I have been told that you can electrify a fence as long as it is clearly posted that it is electrified. Regardless, the key is to talk to a smart attorney or similar and find out what is legal and defensible in your state, the install it.

 

[memphisnate]

memphis

What part of Memphis was this?

What exactly happened? They scaled the fence and got into the garage then waited for you and tried to rob you. Is that right? Or were they stuck in the garage?

 

[DynoDave]

I have been told that you can electrify a fence as long as it is clearly posted that it is electrified.

I had always thought about that as a deterrent. Nothing lethal, but like folks use for animal control. Enough of a shock to make you not want to hang on, not enough to cause injury to be sued over.

http://www.tscstores.com/ELECTRIC-FENCING-C589.aspx

 

[Ronzzr11]

a nice big handful of grease spread on top of the wall

 

[Kaizen]

Basically anything you install that is meant to injure/kill someone who is attempting to trespass is illegal. It *****, but the criminals can and will sue you for everything you own if they get hurt climbing over your spiked wall. Some cities are even forcing people with old spiked wrought iron fences to weld steel balls onto the spikes to prevent injuries to people scaling the fence.
.

ayuh.......that's what the shovel is for

 

[ddawg16]

It is a felony to install any type of device that is not visible and will hurt someone. The only exception is razor wire.

Motion lights....internet cameras and a big *** dog are your best devices for when you are not home.

For when you are home, the Sig is a nice option. Tough I would prefer the 9mm or 45.

 

[rlitman]

a nice big handful of grease spread on top of the wall

You just re-invented "anti climb paint".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-climb_paint

 

[buddyboy]

it just needs to look scary and lethal, it doesn't really have to be.

string 2 or 3 stands of wire along the top of the wall about 4 inches apart, put a sign on it that says "DANGER electric fence", add an outdoor speaker that emits a humming noise that runs whenever you 'arm' it would be a nice effect too.

if you really do want to go with a real electric fence, get one from a farm store like TSC (tractor supply) they are made to keep livestock in their pens. the shock wouldn't kill the intruder but the fall off the 10 foot tall wall might.


or instead of real glass broken bottles, cut plastic ones to look like real broken glass... from 10ft down it'll look real

you could also add 3 or 4 foot tall bars spaced 4 inches apart at the top of the wall, it'll be hard to climb over them at the top of a 10 foot wall

 

[Tim37]

A good dog or lion would be your best bet.

Maybe a rabid raccoon

I had a home invasion about two years ago luckily he ended up with a headache and not me scary thought either way I know I got lucky and it was just some punk kid so high he didn't know what hit him.

 

[rsanter]

Some kind of rounded top on the fence would make it harder to grab and get over. Perhaps you could get some clay pipe that is just a little bigger than the fence and mortar/anchor it to the top of the fence

Rose bushes or cactus on the outside of the fence if you can and have the room

Bob

 

[SALIV8]

as mentioned i would talk to a lawyer to see what you can get away with. also wouldnt hurt to talk to the police and see what they recommend.

then id install an adt motion sensing system that is centrally monitored and you might get a break on your home insurance for it.

they scaled a 10' wall. wow. they were surely determined. im guessing you also have a racing operation. I would be sure my insurance is up to date with lists and photos of everything.

can you elaborate of the type of wall they scaled? is it brick, wood, etc? did they need a ladder?

sorry to hear about this. ive had a home invasion before in chicago and it *****.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

a nice big handful of grease spread on top of the wall

X2. Been doing it for all the spots the kiddies like climb up on the roof at the schools for years...

Tommy

 

[justanengineer]

Basically anything you install that is meant to injure/kill someone who is attempting to trespass is illegal.

Not to nitpick you bc several have said it, but thats not really the case. In sue-happy NY of all places Ive had first-hand experience to the opposite in agricultural areas. Many farmers upstate will "booby-trap" entrances to fields and wood-lots with dog chain to deter wheelers, sleds, and animal traps to deter poachers on foot. Several of my parents' neighbors have been sued over injuries and in one case was hauled downtown bc of a death, the endpoint is always the same - case dismissed. So long as the "trap" can either be claimed to be in the name of sport pest control, or is semi-visible and is clearly inside of your property line its legal. Similarly, nobody marks electric fence and many including my family's fence charger will put most 200+ lb males on their *** 1/2 mile away.

Personally tho, any mechanical or electronic means can be defeated. Dogs OTOH often cannot, esp when theyre backed up with a firearm or three.

 

[G_P]

Not to nitpick you bc several have said it, but thats not really the case. In sue-happy NY of all places Ive had first-hand experience to the opposite in agricultural areas. Many farmers upstate will "booby-trap" entrances to fields and wood-lots with dog chain to deter wheelers, sleds, and animal traps to deter poachers on foot. Several of my parents' neighbors have been sued over injuries and in one case was hauled downtown bc of a death, the endpoint is always the same - case dismissed. So long as the "trap" can either be claimed to be in the name of sport pest control, or is semi-visible and is clearly inside of your property line its legal. Similarly, nobody marks electric fence and many including my family's fence charger will put most 200+ lb males on their *** 1/2 mile away.

Personally tho, any mechanical or electronic means can be defeated. Dogs OTOH often cannot, esp when theyre backed up with a firearm or three.

Electric fences are not marked here either. But one of my friends rode his bike into a steel cable "gate" once near dusk. Clothes lined him right off the bike and left him croaking for air. When the cops and ambulance showed up, the cops tore the landowner a new ******* for not marking the cable. It was clearly my friends fault for not watching where he was going and for trying to ride onto someone elses property, but the cops treated the landowner as if he had personally hit the kid off the bike with a baseball bat.
Friend had no major injures, just a nasty scrape and bruises, but the next day that cable had a big "no trespassing" sign and multiple pieces of orange surveyors tape hung from it.

 

[404]

Geese make really good guards. Cheap to feed (grain not meat) and attack anything that does not feed them daily.

 

[Ilikeike]

I remember being at a hotel in Mexico that had a huge wall around it,and like your home shards of glass embedded in the top.
I thought that was a good idea!
then I thought, what the hell am I doing here!!

 

[Nick Danger]

 

[Duth62]

Not to nitpick you bc several have said it, but thats not really the case. In sue-happy NY of all places Ive had first-hand experience to the opposite in agricultural areas. Many farmers upstate will "booby-trap" entrances to fields and wood-lots with dog chain to deter wheelers, sleds, and animal traps to deter poachers on foot. Several of my parents' neighbors have been sued over injuries and in one case was hauled downtown bc of a death, the endpoint is always the same - case dismissed. So long as the "trap" can either be claimed to be in the name of sport pest control, or is semi-visible and is clearly inside of your property line its legal. Similarly, nobody marks electric fence and many including my family's fence charger will put most 200+ lb males on their *** 1/2 mile away.

Personally tho, any mechanical or electronic means can be defeated. Dogs OTOH often cannot, esp when theyre backed up with a firearm or three.

A slingshot and drugged meat deals with the dogs quick. 1/2 hour later and they're in.

 

[bczygan]

Rotary Anti-climb Spikes

 

[machine_punk]

growing blackberry bushes or roses outside the fence helps too. You don't want to get tangled up in either of those.

 

[theoldwizard1]

At some point, the will top going over and start going under or through !

Several liquors stores in Detroit have been broken into by a couple of determined thieves with nothing more than a sledge hammer. It was done in the very early morning hour, under bright outdoor lights and completely filmed. It took them almost 30 minutes, but they succeeded.

 

[barnjunkie]

I knew this guy that put 120v on his electric fence around his shed to keep the thieves out and got charged himself when the police came to his house. Unfortunately criminals have our weak system of justice on their side.

 

[Marctrees]

I understand this does not address your post question, but I am SO curious WHY you remain living in such a hellhole of an environment??

Do you, or maybe not, realize this is not the norm??

In the area we live in (East TX) this is the LAST thing we would worry about.

Don't get me wrong. we are not blind to possibilitys.

My handgun ( loaded with what I taught my kids called "meat" shells )sits under my computer table, at my couch so I can also watch TV, 10' away,and in clear view of my front door.

Short shotgun not much farther.

But the environment re intruders is so insignificant it's non existant.

Like worrying about an asteroid hitting us.

I just feel sooo bad for you and wish you safety. Lars

 

[ozyborn]

A slingshot and drugged meat deals with the dogs quick. 1/2 hour later and they're in.

My dog would just wait for his walking snack to try to get in. He ignores any food tossed in the yard from anyone but me. Love that. Plus if I notice he is in protect the home mode while I am there. Then the intruder had a 6' 300 lb guy with a shotgun to deal with. Protecting the lives of my kids, wife and myself of course.

 

[drmarkr]

 

[Lippyp]

You might laugh but at our old house I did just that although unlike uncle fester there I used an angle grinder, much quicker!

Rotary Anti-climb Spikes

I was going to suggest this, they work as they make it really hard to get over even if you throw something over them as the rotate and it slides off.

growing blackberry bushes or roses outside the fence helps too. You don't want to get tangled up in either of those.

Rosa Rugosa, pretty and it grows into a huge bush and is tough as old boots and has the most evil thorns.

Another option would be to fabricate a bunch of metal stanchions that you can bolt to the top of the wall that lean outwards with a couple of strands of barbed/razor wire strung along them. Think the fences you see around military bases. It means you have a nasty sharp overhang to negotiate. Nothing is impassable but it would certainly make it lot harder.

The only danger is you make it look like theres something worth having inside.

 

[404]

I understand this does not address your post question, but I am SO curious WHY you remain living in such a hellhole of an environment??

Do you, or maybe not, realize this is not the norm??

In the area we live in (East TX) this is the LAST thing we would worry about.

Don't get me wrong. we are not blind to possibilitys.

My handgun ( loaded with what I taught my kids called "meat" shells )sits under my computer table, at my couch so I can also watch TV, 10' away,and in clear view of my front door.

Short shotgun not much farther.

But the environment re intruders is so insignificant it's non existant.

Like worrying about an asteroid hitting us.

I just feel sooo bad for you and wish you safety. Lars

I'm not being grumpy at you, but moving is not like packing an overnight bag and waking out the door. If the OP has an established business, it may not survive a move. If in an area that is in decline, the existing property may be difficult to sell or financially underwater. There may be local family to consider. Finally, why should people be run out of their homes? If all the good people leave, what is left?

Punch back twice as hard.

 

[gungatim]

I see no reason you couldn't go to the local farm store and pick up an electric fence box and fence wire. plenty of farms use it for animal control, not to mention barbed wire is on almost any secure lot or building all over the country. I like the grease idea, they climb over and get it all over them selves...will leave prints every where too...