Rural Security: Entrances, Gates and Locks

[EddieWalker]

I think you should do as you wife suggests and replace the lock with one of her choice. Just about any decent lock will discourage most thieves, and if they really want in, the lock isn't going to be what stops them. Bolt cutters on the chain, a cutting torch, a pistol or just wraping a chain around the gate and pulling it down with a truck are all fast easy ways to get through a gate if they want to get in.

I have four locks on my gate. One is owned by the power company. Another is owned by the water company. I have a combination lock that is easy to change the combination on it, and I give it out to friends who come over when I'm not around. It's also nice to have if I find myself wanting to open the gate, but don't have my keys on me. It happens. LOL My other lock is a simple Master key lock. Nothing fancy. Every once in awhile it will get stiff, and I give it a shot of oil to lubricate it.

Security is an illusion. It is also measured in how long you can delay a determined effort to get past it. When I was with the State Departmen in the Marine Corps, we had ratings on locks. Most locks were measured in seconds in how long it would delay an expert. This is why you need the human factor in a high security situation. Your goal is to creat the illusion that your place is secure, and delay an intruder to the point where they will chose another location over yours.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[300UGUY]

I think you should do as you wife suggests and replace the lock with one of her choice. Just about any decent lock will discourage most thieves, and if they really want in, the lock isn't going to be what stops them. Bolt cutters on the chain, a cutting torch, a pistol or just wraping a chain around the gate and pulling it down with a truck are all fast easy ways to get through a gate if they want to get in.

I have four locks on my gate. One is owned by the power company. Another is owned by the water company. I have a combination lock that is easy to change the combination on it, and I give it out to friends who come over when I'm not around. It's also nice to have if I find myself wanting to open the gate, but don't have my keys on me. It happens. LOL My other lock is a simple Master key lock. Nothing fancy. Every once in awhile it will get stiff, and I give it a shot of oil to lubricate it.

Security is an illusion. It is also measured in how long you can delay a determined effort to get past it. When I was with the State Departmen in the Marine Corps, we had ratings on locks. Most locks were measured in seconds in how long it would delay an expert. This is why you need the human factor in a high security situation. Your goal is to creat the illusion that your place is secure, and delay an intruder to the point where they will chose another location over yours.

Good luck,
Eddie

Great description of "security". I just signed up with ADT alarm company. The rep said that over 80% of the criminals look at the ADT sign (or other security sys co. sign) and move on to someplace less secure. Very good post.

 

[roamerr]

I gate opener can work fine with a farm gate. I have an Apollo opener that is fairly expensive but it works well. For safety I have an SOS Siren DEtector installed that will open the gate if it detects a siren. Works well. As mentioned before anyone that wants to open the gate can if they spend enough time. My gate has a powered lock that would require a few more minutes...

SOS Siren Safety Sensor (SOS-YDT)

 

[Runner]

"The rep said that over 80% of the criminals look at the ADT sign (or other security sys co. sign) and move on to someplace less secure. Very good post."

I can just see the ADT people out there with a clipboard taking a survey as the criminals walk away from the house....

Sure hope they're right, since I have one of their systems too.....

Now, just gotta worry about the other 20%

 

[ultrarunner]

"The rep said that over 80% of the criminals look at the ADT sign (or other security sys co. sign) and move on to someplace less secure. Very good post."

I can just see the ADT people out there with a clipboard taking a survey as the criminals walk away from the house....

Sure hope they're right, since I have one of their systems too.....

Now, just gotta worry about the other 20%

I wish you guys well with ADT... the company spent 80k on a Alarm System with ADT 15 years ago and we have been informed are equipment is obsolete and we must upgrade...

 

[Runner]

"I wish you guys well with ADT... the company spent 80k on a Alarm System with ADT 15 years ago and we have been informed are equipment is obsolete and we must upgrade... "

Actually, ADT wasn't my choice. The system I originally bought was Broadview (previously Brinks). Then, ADT bought out Broadview, so now I have an ADT system whether I want it or not....

 

[2manyrocks]

A lot of folks wouldn't like the inconvenience of having to get out of the car to open the gate and then shut it, especially in the cold or in the rain. If you add in difficulty with a lock that's difficult to use, it adds to the inconvenience.

Is there any security risk to your wife due to having to get out of the car to open the gate?

 

[redberankubota]

We`ve had ADT since `05 and have had no problems...

 

[300UGUY]

"The rep said that over 80% of the criminals look at the ADT sign (or other security sys co. sign) and move on to someplace less secure. Very good post."

I can just see the ADT people out there with a clipboard taking a survey as the criminals walk away from the house....

Sure hope they're right, since I have one of their systems too.....

Now, just gotta worry about the other 20%

I figure that I cannot eliminate all risk, but if I can reduce it by 80%, it's a good start.

 

[jayste]

Since both of you agree to not get an automatic opener then, like others have said, have your wife pick out the lock that she thinks would work. Of course, it has to be functional for your gate and all but it gives her the decision. You mentioned that you want something to keep folks out and that is more inconspicuous than some fancy gate locks and openings. I can understand your point. If your opening only looks like a typical ag gate going to a pasture or such then most folks won't give it a second look. I've, as well as others, have posted some gate latches on here before. Below are what we have on ours. Bear in mind our gate is always locked. We're not unsocialable just like our pricacy. Our neighbors know and have our phone numbers. Also, the fencing at our enty is barbed wire and T-posts so if someone (like fire and rescue) really wants in then wire cutters will do it. I like what Eddie and others said mentioning that it's all only SO secure. BTW, we used to have 5 gate openers and they all grew up and moved out!:laughing:

 

[Skyco]

"The rep said that over 80% of the criminals look at the ADT sign (or other security sys co. sign) and move on to someplace less secure.

Yep I hope they are right because I have one of their signs...don't have their alarm but do have their sign

 

[Ken45101]

80% of the criminals....

How many criminals do you have in YOUR neighborhood? :laughing:

Who interviewed the criminals to come up with the 80% number?

Ken

 

[unbidden]

Originally Posted by Runner
"The rep said that over 80% of the criminals look at the ADT sign (or other security sys co. sign) and move on to someplace less secure.

Posted by Skyco
Yep I hope they are right because I have one of their signs...don't have their alarm but do have their sign

I have their sign and alarm.... a gate, and a couple of guns... If the felons get by that.... my wife practices voodoo :laughing:

 

[hizoot]

oohhh...the very mention of ADT gets my blood boiling. Back in '03,they called us with a "free" installation/equipment sales pitch....it will only cost us a minimum monthly fee. So..we met with them at our home,signed a work order. After they left,we looked at the "paper work" a little closer, and discovered it was not what they had implied and the first month would be close to 400.00. We immediately called him up, met him at his office, and they gave us back the "paper work and deposit check"..that we tore up. They understood the problem and it was no harm no foul....no ill feelings, etc. 6 or 7 years later...we get a dun from them with all kinds of threatening letters. It had been so long, I didnt even know what it was about. They were trying to sue us for "breach" of contract and wanted the last 7 years payments. Of course, we never recieved any equipment or services, etc. Come to find out, after getting the Texas Attorney Generals office involved, we found they were doing this to thousands of people around the state. They are nothing but crooks....

That was the last time I took anyones word before signing a "work order",even a friend I was trying to help out, by helping him get his first sale ( he was the ADT rep in training)....It was a definite mistake on my part.

 

[ultrarunner]

oohhh...the very mention of ADT gets my blood boiling. Back in '03,they called us with a "free" installation/equipment sales pitch....it will only cost us a minimum monthly fee. So..we met with them at our home,signed a work order. After they left,we looked at the "paper work" a little closer, and discovered it was not what they had implied and the first month would be close to 400.00. We immediately called him up, met him at his office, and they gave us back the "paper work and deposit check"..that we tore up. They understood the problem and it was no harm no foul....no ill feelings, etc. 6 or 7 years later...we get a dun from them with all kinds of threatening letters. It had been so long, I didnt even know what it was about. They were trying to sue us for "breach" of contract and wanted the last 7 years payments. Of course, we never recieved any equipment or services, etc. Come to find out, after getting the Texas Attorney Generals office involved, we found they were doing this to thousands of people around the state. They are nothing but crooks....

That was the last time I took anyones word before signing a "work order",even a friend I was trying to help out, by helping him get his first sale ( he was the ADT rep in training)....It was a definite mistake on my part.

Don't know what happened to them... they keep getting bigger and bigger by taking over others... Brinks was just one of the latest big ones and one that offered competition.

My company was paying $5000 a year for monitoring and service... had a problem over Thanksgiving and they could not do anything and sent an invoice for $600 for the Service Call... I told them they had better check their records because we have a Service Contract and 15 years of cancelled checks...

ADT answered the money I paid was only for monitoring... yeah right.

I then asked them to produce my contract and they have been unable to find it... I have it in writing from ADT that I have no contract... I said great!!! I'm going with another company and here's my notice...

 

[unbidden]

Concerning ADT

The property we just purchased already had a new alarm system installed so there wasn't any hidden fee's; just the monthly service fee. There was a $99 fee to come over and re-check and reset the code, but we received a $100 discount on the home-owners insurance for having a working alarm.

 

[ultrarunner]

Concerning ADT

The property we just purchased already had a new alarm system installed so there wasn't any hidden fee's; just the monthly service fee. There was a $99 fee to come over and re-check and reset the code, but we received a $100 discount on the home-owners insurance for having a working alarm.

Could be they are such a big company that service is not consistent throughout the country... All of my experience has been with a single commercial account.

 

[Pirate]

The big companies advertise these great deals - your home protected for only 100 dollars - or something to that effect. I had them out and started getting into the nitty gritty of what would really have sensors and what wouldn't. It turned out that most of those deals would only sensor a door or 2 and perhaps a couple of motion sensors. I wanted all of my perimeter openings covered so I decided to learn all about alarm systems. It turns out that ADT and some others used ADEMCO (Honeywell) systems, just renamed them. To get the equipment from the big companies, it would have probably cost me over 5K from them. I bought all my own Honeywell equipment, learned to program it, install it, etc. for a fraction of the cost. One of my better moves. Now, each and every windown, door, etc. has a sensor, motions,l smokes, glass breaks, panels all over, great system. I just remember reading though that the best alarm system is a good dog, he just won't tell you someone is in your home when you come home. Just like this forum and tractor forums, etc., there are a couple of real good DIY Alarm forums.

 

[mckinney]

For securing the gate, I'd suggest an Abloy padlock and an Abus 9/16" security chain. Neither of these can be cut by any standard bolt cutter or hacksaw and the lock and key are easy to use. The cost of an Abloy 340 lock is about $125 and 2 feet of the 9/16 chain is about $100.

Of course a strong lock and chain will only make something else the weak link - the gate hinges, construction of the gate itself, fencing and so on. Still, I am of the opinion that if someone is going to try to break in, I want to make them work as long as possible.

 

[aczlan]

For securing the gate, I'd suggest an Abloy padlock and an Abus 9/16" security chain. Neither of these can be cut by any bolt cutter or hacksaw - ample video evidence of that on youtube, etc, and the lock and key are easy to use. The cost of an Abloy 340 lock is about $125 and 2 feet of the 9/16 chain is about $100.

Of course a strong lock and chain will only make something else the weak link - the gate hinges, construction of the gate itself, fencing and so on. Still, I am of the opinion that if someone is going to try to break in, I want to make them work as long as possible.

That will get you 36 seconds with a cordless angle grinder (~18 seconds per cut):

Aaron Z