Break ins/cabin security - Small Cabin Forum


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Small Cabin Forum / General Forum / Break ins/cabin security

Author	Message
Vince P Member	# Posted: 1 Jun 2008 07:37 Reply I just wanted to share with all of you my experiences with trying to keep my cabin secure. My cabin is in a remote part of upstate NY and I knew that eventually, someone would find it and break in. In the time that I've owned it, I've been aware of one trespasser evidenced by the snowmobile tracks in the snow, which prompted me to install a 14’ gate. This past March, I arrived at my cabin to find the door wide open. Someone kicked my door in and went through the cabin, opening cabinets and drawers to see what I had in there. Nothing seemed to have been taken, which is strange, since I had a generator and a kids ATV inside. Those two items alone could have been a nice haul for a potential thief. It’s likely they may have been looking for guns or cash. So to make a long involved story short, here are two tips for those with remote cabins: #1 Most local, or in my case state police will do a free routine property check if you fill out the form asking them to do so. The break-in that occurred at my cabin happened while there was still snow on the ground and the scum who did this knew I wasn't there because of the lack of any tracks. An officer who checks on the property will leave tracks. #2 A cabin alarm. In my research, I have found only one packaged alarm that is suitable for this type of application. http://www.cabinalarm.com/index.html I purchased and installed this alarm. The set-up requires a battery, which was not a problem for me since I had installed a simple solar system this past winter. I like the fact that it doesn't draw any current when armed. The seller's website describes it like this: "Many people believe that alarms don't work for Remote Cabins or Camps but opportunistic crooks don't expect them and don't plan on them. If this Cabin Alarm is activated it makes a tremendous amount of noise (inside and out) and it will put the power in your favor"
Vince P Member	# Posted: 6 Jun 2008 21:47 Reply One more tip. If you don't already have one, install a hasp with a padlock on your door. This is cheap security that makes kicking in the door much more difficult.
CabinBuilder Admin	# Posted: 11 Jun 2008 09:18 - Edited by: CabinBuilder Reply That's nasty surprise. Unfortunately there is always that risk... I often think about it when not visiting my cabin for a some time. I thought about setting up a hidden motion-sensor camera. Often those bad guys are same suspects and are known to the local police. Camera would also capture wild life, to see what's going on around cabin when you're not there. Hunters and nature lovers use those to capture animal photos.
Suka Member	# Posted: 13 Jul 2008 20:10 Reply I've been thinking about this. I'm planning shutters for the windows/door so when they're closed show an iron grate, when open show a shutter(asthetically pleasing). Should be pretty easy, just make your hinge point out far enough to accomodate the shutter, figuring on a piece of 1/8 by maybe 1 1/2" flat iron bolted to the outside edge of the door/window jamb sticking out through the siding to paddlock to. 2 per door/1 per window. May sound extreme, but it'll keep the "honest" people out. My shop in the local industrial area I put wrought iron grates over all the windows and an opening grate over the doors. When I first did it, all the neighbors made me the brunt of their jokes. Wasn't long till all my neighbors got "hit", my shop wasn't touched. Lesson learned, and now they all sport the same security. Most potential crooks are not only stupid, they're lazy. Best of luck.

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