Thread: Anyone have tips on how to prevent theft?

Tweet

I'm a military guy and live on base... so it's relatively safe, but I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on how to prevent possible theft of your props and what not...

Doesnt apply to everyone, but I have some motion sensor activated props in my yard. Once set up, at night I'm moving the plug from a zombie to a floodlight. Come in my yard, bright-ass light floods my yard. That should deter some mischief

Originally Posted by teemenchaca

I'm a military guy and live on base... so it's relatively safe, but I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on how to prevent possible theft of your props and what not...

You have ALL the deterents, tanks, bazookas ,machine guns, Soilders!!

I know a lot use bright lights with motion detectors and some don't put the good stuff out until Hallowen night .

If there's only one or two entrances/exits and there's a fence it can make it easier to monitor the trick or treaters. You could get a surveillance camera? lol I've considered it but that would mean I was inside and it would take a couple of minutes to even get to the front yard. *agrees with the motion detectors* I got a screaming skull motion detector this year I'm going to cover it in netting and secure it to the ground, then it'll let me know when there's people in the yard. Also I've used those wire garden ties to attach lighting to the trees in the past (although they tried to steal it still not knowing, they weren't able to untie it from the tree but they messed up the wiring in the cable and partially ruined the lights ),cable ties (like you use for computer cables) are pretty good too if you have something to secure it to. Good luck teamenchaca

angelique_nm

I use lighting..... from barrel flash. j/k

I put it all up for a party the weekend before (the 30th this year) in the house and back yard. Some stuff is out front, but not all. For halloween night, I put it all out front and take it all down same night. Some of the static stuff is left out, but the high dollar stuff is removed. Most people know I carry my ruger with me at all times and I would not hesitate to stop them in the act and cuff them. My dogs are very alert to what is going on in our yard. No problems after 7 years. KNOCK ON WOOD.

Dave S.
Norfolk, VA

I use two deterrents, signs and fake battery operated surveillance cameras. I had a couple hundred dollars worth of stuff stolen about ten years ago and since adding the aforementioned I have had nothing touched. I am not saying that adding those two deterrents will stop thieves but for me so far so good.

My signs simply state: Warning Security Cameras in Use. I purchased the cheap battery operated surveillance cameras from Harbor Freight

I never had a problem until last year, when I happened to catch a truck load of kids trying to take my custom-made treasure chest. They didn't get it, but it made me much more careful. So now I take almost everything in. The tombstone are mounted on rebar, so they are easy to pull off, but you don't want bare rebar sticking out of the ground so you need to stick some pvc over it at night. If I have large creatures outside, I just take the head and arms off. I do this because most of my stuff is hand made, and irreplaceable. If you just have a bunch of cheap Best Lots stuff, perhaps just leave it outside.

Put it out the night of. That's what we always did. And have at least one live person as part of your scene that night, who can help keep an eye on things.

Stacy

Anything I am afraid to lose goes out the night of and in the same night. Which makes for a very busy day. All the small props, lighting, and decorations are secured with fishing line. I also have motion sensor lights on the garage and porch (not that you can see my proch with a big maze in front of it). I have been very lucky (knock on wood) and not had anything taken. Strangely enough, I had some solar lights taken out of my yard mid-year. They were cool though and changed colors.