Thread: Its that time again to discuss it. Protect your haunt!!! Share your tips!

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Every year we see friends positing here talking about vandalism or theft on their property attacking our haunts. this year with the economy being as poor as it is and crime on the rise in some places accross the country its more important than ever to be mindful of protecting your haunt and all your hard work and money.

Here is an older thread with some useful information

No more Victims! Protect your Haunt!!

I have found a new website for cheaper cameras here:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/su...10&cp_id=11006

Remember these basic rules about camera systems.

Always make sure the line resolution is at least 420

That all cameras have LEDs or IR for night viewing

Post signs that your haunt is being monitored by cameras

Remember that DVRs FPS or "frames per second" is spit between all cameras. A 4 channel or 4 camera DVR with 120FPS is 30FPS per camera. 32 FPS is real time video.

Even going cheap expect it could run 1000 dollars or more for a full camera system. Yes I know, a LOT of money.

A cheaper solution are the deer cameras and video:

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...uctId=11644115

Word to the wise on these. NEVER use the camera, ONLY VIDEO!

Fences of course are another great deterrent. The props forum is full of people who have made cheap and effective fencing for their haunts.


PLEASE! Share your tricks/tips for keeping your haunt safe for Halloween!

If you're that worried, maybe you should contemplate moving.

Otherwise, get to know your neighbors

A sign that says camera's present, just reminds the vandals to wear a mask and pull the hood up on their hoodie.

I def don't post a sign about it. That way, they don't know its actually there. We have several security cameras set up that record for several days before dumping the files. They record to a computer in the house. We have them at several angles so that way no one gets any ideas.

Last year our haunt was vandalized on Devil's night. This year not only will we have a fence but I am also having a Devil's night buffet in my driveway and inviting all the closest neighbors. I figure if we are out and about in the neighborhood the vandals will go somewhere else.

I wish I could live in a small or smaller town, and get to know my neighbors! We live on a Military post in a Military housing complex that at least 3 thousand other people live in. We have 2 other housing areas on post as well. We are a mobile people. Right now there are 2 moving trucks on my street- 2 families moving. Summer is a big moving season- lots of new families.
I wish I could go house to house and be a friendly gal, but alot of people would not even answer the door. When my neighbor tried to ( and DID) stab her husband in the throat multiple times, their son came over to our house and ran in. We called the MPs, and all hell broke loose. The MPs thanked us several times for opening our door and helping him, as they said most people on post DO NOT open their door to a stranger, even a child. That is sad. Some people are very friendly, but they are few and far between.
I am gonna decorate my porch on October 1st. Then, I am gonna put out some stuff during the day as we get closer to Halloween, but at night it comes in. (They just caught a ring of juvenile dependents breaking into homes during the day...if they will do that in broad daylight, imagine what occurs at night!)
Even the night of Halloween, it's mostly ALL getting thrown into the garage. We live in a not so great place, sadly. When we moved in last year, there were decorations on the street at Halloween, but very basic, low cost ones. (Nothing wrong with that, they looked great!) But I refuse to have my heart broken by "thug life."

Originally Posted by Scatterbrains

If you're that worried, maybe you should contemplate moving.

Otherwise, get to know your neighbors

A sign that says camera's present, just reminds the vandals to wear a mask and pull the hood up on their hoodie.

First of all it doesn't matter where you live. I'm in the neighborhood association, I know all my neighbors for 5 houses in any direction and none of the houses in our neighborhood are under 250k. That did not save me from having vandals steal some lawn equipment once or a stone statue from the front. Vandals are usually children who don't care. The signs do make it more forbidding. Any police officer will tell you that the more undesirable you make your home to thieves and vandals, the greater the chance they will look somewhere else.

Originally Posted by Ghouliet:1148607

Last year our haunt was vandalized on Devil's night. This year not only will we have a fence but I am also having a Devil's night buffet in my driveway and inviting all the closest neighbors. I figure if we are out and about in the neighborhood the vandals will go somewhere else.

Superb idea!

Originally Posted by texmaster

First of all it doesn't matter where you live. I'm in the neighborhood association, I know all my neighbors for 5 houses in any direction and none of the houses in our neighborhood are under 250k. That did not save me from having vandals steal some lawn equipment once or a stone statue from the front. Vandals are usually children who don't care. The signs do make it more forbidding. Any police officer will tell you that the more undesirable you make your home to thieves and vandals, the greater the chance they will look somewhere else.

How much of your stuff did you get back and what punishment did the vandals get?

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess none. Most garden decor items or statues I've heard of being stolen were never recovered. It's not a big deal to the police and they consider it a waste of time.

I live in the city not far from the hood and surprisingly nothing has ever been vandalized or stolen. One year kids went down the street on halloween smashing pumpkins... they hit all the houses but mine. Maybe their parents warned them about me in the off season... lol.

If you have a dog and it's not too hot, wet, or cold you could keep it chained in the front yard at night while your decorations are out.