The winds of change

[MaxTheKnife]

I feel the winds of change blowing lately. And it reminds me of an old thread I started not long after I became a member here. I don't recall the thread title, but it was about drifters coming through as times started getting harder. Well, times are harder now and getting worse every day as far as I can tell. So I thought I'd post this as a refresher to that old thread.

Theft is increasing in my neck of the woods. I've never had any problems with property theft out here where we live. Oh, I'd hear about a break-in nearby from time to time. That's going to happen. Last week, someone stole my neighbors motor scooter from their barn. It was locked with a chain around a main support beam. It wasn't visible from the highway or dirt road, either one. And I'm asking myself; why go to all that trouble just to steal a crappy little motor scooter? Maybe gas prices? Or could it just be young kids getting into mischief? Well, it hit home with me because I'd been trying to buy that little scooter from my neighbor and was waiting till he'd come down on his price before I laid down the cash. I guess he held out a little too long and now neither of us has anything to show for it.

Anyway, I'm wondering how folks will handle the coming depression or whatever you want to call it. What will you do when people drop in unexpectedly and need some food or water or a place to stay for the night? Will you turn them away, or try and work something out? The chances are good that those of us who live out in the country will see wave after wave of misplaced and homeless people wandering through looking for ways to survive. I know this is a prep board, but are you prepared to deal with that kind of situation? I like to think I am, but I won't really know till I'm faced with it. It's going to be difficult for me because I don't like to see people suffer needlessly. But I also have to insure my family's survival, above all else. I know this subject has come up many times over the years. I just felt like now was a good time to rehash it and see if anyone has any new ideas or perspectives on the subject.

 

[Jumpy Frog]

For unexpected visitors I will handle them on a case by case basis. If they are friendly I may provide what I can spare to assist them......mostly a day or so of food, water and local conditions. I believe women and kids come first so any spare resources I have will go to them before the men. Few, if any, will be offered crash space in the house. I've got enough land to set up a few tents and still be secure from strangers.

IMO all should be able to survive in our moderate weather and enviroment here in the Sierras. However my time with SAR and other various emergency agancies has enlightened me that this is not usually the case. If it is prudent I may take the time to show basic wilderness survival, first aid and hunter/gather type skills in a crash course.

For those that may approach with ner-do-well intentions......they'll have to pay dearly for their pursuit of it........I hope .

All will be met with loaded weapons from both seen and hidden. All will be told to place their weapons, if any, on the ground and step clear. Then to kneel with their back to me with fingers enterlocked behind their heads and their chins touching the dirt......at the least. Gut feelings have saved me before so I'll listen strongly to them, as always. Pat downs from me while covered from elsewhere. Then we can move on with the hellos or goodbyes.

 

[Nuthatch]

Around here the neighborhood watch has been on extra alert due to noticing odd vehicles at odd times. It pays that one of our members changed shifts and comes home after midnight. So far nothing missing down our road, but on the main road a few people had trouble in the fall. We are attentive.

Frankly, I am not worried about someone dropping in and needing anything. Mostly because it will be pretty crowded here already and won't look that inviting! I have an extensive network of folks who will probably show up and I am semi-prepped to deal with them.

I have spent a great deal of time being a good neighbor. It has lots of extra benefits and being on the right side of the 'watch' group is one of them.

FOr me, being a good neighbor is a vital prep.

 

[Todd]

First of all, I live on a private road in the mountains in the boondocks.

There are aren't many people on the road so we have a layered defense depending upon the situation.

Level I - no concerns - main gate open and unlocked

Level II - some concerns such as market meltdown/depression; attack on Iran - lock main gate

Level III - moderate concerns such as saber rattling by other countries - main gate locked plus add chains along the road to discourage lookie-loos

Level IV - serious concerns - add tripwire sound alarms

Level V - very serious concerns such as EMP or nukes - add booby traps and OP

Now, all this sounds very organized but situations are always fluid so tactics have to change as necessary. At this point, our main concern is locals since city people would have to drive here and there are plans to close the main highway if necessary.

Todd

 

[Jumpy Frog]

First of all, I live on a private road in the mountains in the boondocks.

There are aren't many people on the road so we have a layered defense depending upon the situation.

Level I - no concerns - main gate open and unlocked

Level II - some concerns such as market meltdown/depression; attack on Iran - lock main gate

Level III - moderate concerns such as saber rattling by other countries - main gate locked plus add chains along the road to discourage lookie-loos

Level IV - serious concerns - add tripwire sound alarms

Level V - very serious concerns such as EMP or nukes - add booby traps and OP

Now, all this sounds very organized but situations are always fluid so tactics have to change as necessary. At this point, our main concern is locals since city people would have to drive here and there are plans to close the main highway if necessary.

Todd

Todd,
You sound like my nieghbor the next ridge over. Except for the Level One and Two......he got rid of those.

 

[Splicer205]

Good thread Max, and we've given a lot of thought to it, but not gained a lot of wisdom on it. We've tossed over the ideas people have given. Some say they won't share because the people know you have things and will come back and forcefully take the rest. Others say they can't let anyone go hungry.

I guess we'll find out when the time comes. Something that I haven't seen mentioned and wonder if it will become a factor in the decision that people make, is how much a person can afford to give. If hyperinflation were to hit, and bread cost 10 or 20 dollars a loaf, how much would it cost you to give a family a sandwich. Just thought I'd toss that point out, because as time passes, it might become more of a concern. It will be interesting to see others input on your thread.

 

[Caplock50]

I really hate to have to say it, but with so many 'city folks' moving to the country, we'll all have to consider the 'city mentality' in our home defenses. If you're unsure of my meaning, just think NOLA/Katrina scenarios.

 

[RiJoRi]

It also helps to imagine things from the outsider's PoV.
(1) Nice guy, hard times, needs help, willing to do "something" in return -- if you were this person, what would you do?
(2) Bad guy wanting to crash your party -- or, how would you overcome the security systems?
These are two extremes. There will be cases somewheres between these two.

--Rich

 

[MaxTheKnife]

Good points, Rich. And that's what will make it so difficult on both sides of the fence. How many times do you see a hitch-hiker and wonder if they're a good person just down on their luck or maybe an ex-con looking for a car to heist? It's hard to know another persons mind until you have some experience with them. And that's where the danger comes from. Experience is a harsh teacher.

 

[moocollins]

Hey Max! Good thread!

There has been a marked increase of theft in my neck of the woods as well. seems as though there are a lot of junkers running arround stealing scrap. I have kept my scrap aluminum bagged outside hidden in between the fence and the shed for years, you really have to look to find it and if you are looking your on MY property. I cash it in every 3 months or so. I went out to cash it in last month and to my dismay every last bag was gone.... Somebody got it... It was only 20 or 30 dollars worth but now I have to keep it all in the garage to keep it from getting stolen, what a pain. Whats more, my Father went out to his barn a couple of weekends ago and saw a pickup parked in the lane with all kinds of metalic junk in the back end. When he went into the barn there was the junker standing in the middle with tools in his hands, my Dads tools. He was briskly escorted back out and told he was lucky that the sherriff was not going to be called. My Father took down his license number and told him that he was tresspassing and if anything was missing or came up missing he would report the incident. My Father now pad locks the barn. Keep in mind this is county land on a private lane....
It used to be that a person could leave their house and leave the door unlocked, now you can't do that without risking a bad outcome.

 

[jed turtle]

try to look as poor and desperate as the drifters. they'll keep moving...

 

[Todd]

FWIW, I thought some of you might like to know we aren't going to use padlocks on anything when (not if) TSHTF. Instead we're going to use grade 8 nuts and bolts to secure the chains with the nuts (double nutted) inside a section of galvanized pipe. The rationale is this: really bad actors could drip glue or locktite into the tumbler and hasp and you'd have a heck of a time dealing with it, especially with a security lock. And, few people will be carrying a socket set plus wrenches.

By using protected double nuts, it requires a wrench to hold the bolt plus a socket wrench with an extension to get to the nuts and dripped glue wouldn't do much. Plus, it's cheap as heck!

Is it perfect? No. Nothing is perfect.

Todd

 

[Plasmid]

Years ago we lived in a middle class neighborhood of ordinary 1200-1500 sq ft ranch homes. The neighbors across the street got broken into twice. They had made the mistake of having fancy cast iron tables and chairs and some expensive cast iron deer statues as ornaments out in the well-tended front yard, not the back yard.

It was the kind of stuff that sent a messager to thieves that they would be the kind of people who liked to impress, and that they would have a lot of neat stuff inside the house too.

Therefore, the exterior of any home should be nice but plain in the end. Don't display stuff that says "hey, come get me." Also, keep the garage door down, all they need to do is see the glint of a red Craftsman mechanics tool chest, or some such, as they cruise by to get them to driving by late in the eve to see who is home. Small stuff is a tip-off to big stuff. A plastic practice target deer left out says that you have a bow and probably some shotguns. Never ever leave a fancy rototiller out unattended, etc.. Those are going to be hi-value theft items. They will be cruising by your place more frequently to see what they can see.

 

[blueridge]

"...Theft is increasing in my neck of the woods..."


As awful a problem as theft might be - there've been two murders within 2-3 blocks of where we live in the past few months. Considering the relatively small size of this city (45k?) that seems like a significant cause for concern.

As far as theft goes - it just seems more & more difficult to have/keep anything worthwhile that isn't nailed/screwed/bolted down real well. Anything loose just seems to get 'liberated' (at least that's what it was called in the 70's).

The 'winds' don't seem to be bringing a hint of good things to come...

 

[Jackpine Savage]

I'll testify to effectiveness of gates. In the early 90's I moved an hour north of the Twin Cities. Built a new house on 5 acres in a small development. I had about a 200' driveway, and when the leaves were on the trees it was very well screened from the road. I was broken into 3 times, twice during the day for sure. The other time I was out of town and not sure what time of day it took place.

I designed and welded my own gates using rectangular tubing. When the gates swung closed a section of tubing slid from one to the other. The padlock fit up inside a cutout in the tubing. It was out of the weather and you couldn't get at the shackle with a bolt cutter. It worked very well and I had no more problems with break ins.

To be really effective you need to keep the gate closed all the time. Otherwise you are advertising the fact that when the gate is closed no one is home. A real PIA if you have lots of traffic coming and going. Good for keeping out JW's though.

 

[theoutlands]

Had my gas siphoned about 5am not too long ago with the truck parked right in front of the house and the gas-filler in plain view of the front door. Neighbor at the end of the road had a kerosene heater and a "stick-saw" stolen off his porch one evening *with people in the house*!

This is on a dead-end road with houses that cannot be seen from the blacktop...

 

[Cardinal]

try to look as poor and desperate as the drifters. they'll keep moving...

Not necessarily JT. The poor get ripped off by other poor more often than the rich do....Poor says you may be an easy target.

 

[BornFree]

Scorpions
Winds of change

I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change
An August summer night
Soldiers passing by
Listening to the winds of change

The world is closing in
Did you ever think
That we could be so close, like brothers
The future's in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the winds of change

[Chorus:]
Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the winds of change

Walking down the street
Distant memories
Are buried in the past forever

I follow the Moskva
Down to Gorky Park
Listening to the wind of change

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the winds of change

The wind of change blows straight
Into the face of time
Like a stormwind that will ring
The freedom bell for peace of mind
Let your balalaika sing
What my guitar wants to say

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow share their dreams
With you and me

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the winds of change