Best way to prevent thieves?

[Birker2020]

Postcode and Smartwater anything of value including tack. Reverse all gate hinges so gates can not be lifted off hinges hinges. Freezemark all horses as anyone can read a Freezemark.

I've always believed in freeze marking horses as a really good deterrent and six of seven of mine have been freeze marked but for some reason people feel chipping them is better. But you're right, freezemark is visible deterrent but don't forget to put your freezemark on your rugs too! If you're horse isn't marked just make up a freezemark number and paint it on your rugs! That's what I used to do.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Someone I worked for as a teenager keep geese in her barn that had the tack room in…used to scare me when I had to let them out in the morning

^^^ My uncle used to have a Gander on his farm; it lived in the corner of the yard and no-one but no-one could get past it. Better than a Rottweiler! Uncle used to be friendly with the local Plod who used to go shooting on the farm with him. One day the Plod came into the yard - just dropped in - and the Gander came out and had him by the seat of his police-regulation trousers. He had to go to Police Stores apparently and explain how he'd got a hole in his old ones that he wanted replacing!!

We have Guinea Fowls. They are raucous and very quirky little birds and will kick off in full cry and go up onto the roofs if someone comes onto the place who they don't know.

What I'd advise is having a few professional security firms come around do a "Survey": you don't need to buy what they'd suggest, but having someone around who has a professional "eye" for any weak points is always useful. I had a few come round a few years back now and they were able to point out weak spots I'd never have thought of.

My horse is freezemarked: yes it isn't visually appealing but if it keeps her safe then so be it. We don't go into the showring! Also paint postcode on the TOP of horseboxes/trailers so then a drone/police helicopter can easily spot them!

The main thing is to make a yard look visually unappealing; so this means everything possible locked away (and don't forget your hay!!) as much as possible. You can get cameras which look very much like the real thing and will even "blink" if someone comes near them (battery!). But they are actually dummies.

And do be careful of contractors & people who go around doing jobs. There is someone in our area who people have for odd jobs such as paddock works/cutting etc. Then in a few months they are "done". Without fail. Funny that........... unfortunately it always seems to happen when this particular individual has done work at a yard. He obviously takes the chance to look around and then goes back and helps himself.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

My mate put up fake cctv cameras with a flashing light on them. I really thought they were real,!,
she also got a large dog in a kennel overnight. It’s as soft as a brush but barks its head off dog is so happy as it hated living in a house. She got motion lights , and also piercings alarms on fence gates. They are really loud. A neighbour would call her if anything went off. Got signs up stating all tack is kept off premises and rugs are marked with postcode.
trailers are in a locked gated area with wheel locks and her big old lorry parked over gateway. No one would take her lorry it’s a sod to start
and last week she got solar lights put in. They last till nearly dawn on all night.
so far, nothing been stolen
most feed and hay and other horsey bits are in a container with a really good lock

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hi all, was hoping people might have some tips & tricks for deterring thieves? There’s been a spate of thefts from local yards lately with batteries, energisers, rugs, tack, fly stuff being taken, both from secured and unsecured locations so trying to plan ahead to keep our stuff safe.

I’m on a yard where we all have our own fields / storage but nothing is particularly secure. I’ve brought most of my high value items home (expensive stuff stays at home anyway, but rugs & things have now come back) but it’s not ideal to keep everything at home forever.

I have a camera which lights up when it detects movement and sends me a notification.

I’ve painted my batteries / energisers with pink paint and written “stolen” on them.

Has anyone got any ideas for rugs etc?

Thanks!

Not read any replies but,

1. paint your postcode on the rugs,
2. cctv waning stickers on the fence or stables
3. solar power sensor lights
4. padlocks
5. chains
6. take very expensive stuff home
7. tack marking
8. freezemarking
9. postcode all your equipment
10. weld your gate hinges so they cannot be removed or lifted off
11. liveries/ shares go up at different times.
12. alarms
13. join horse watch scheme
14. walk round the yard thinking like a thief and see if there are any weakness in fencing, hedges etc
15. get a security dog at night or geese
16. if possible take it in turns doing a night check
17. if at all possible, get an old caravan and take it in turns staying over