Travel and home security

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SpoonJuly

Guest
#1
#1
My son and his wife are insisting that my wife and I accompany them on a road trip to Alaska this summer.
They have a motor home and will be gone 6 to 8 weeks.
We would love to go but are concerned about leaving are home for that long.
We live in the country and our nearest neighbor is 6 miles away.
Have any of you been away from home that long? How did you make sure your home was secure?
Seems I read where some one on the forum spends time away in Australia so maybe he could advise me.

Thanks.
 
Subhumanoidal

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
#2
Sep 17, 2018
4,094
3,196
113
#2
I'm no expert on this, but it seems the best thing you can do is attempt to convince passerby's that you are home. Having your neighbor pick up your mail, not only helps ensure you get everything, but also keeping an empty mailbox suggests you're still home and active.
Also getting a timer for some lights in the home to turn on in the evening and off in the morning could help. Perhaps even to the tv. Set the timer on the tv, but not on the cable box. Keep the box turned on, and let the timer turn the tv on/off.
Getting cameras could work, too. Most have apps that you can install on smart phones and can alert you of any activity. Many have motion detection and only record when set off by motion. Also night vision. Even getting a few to place toward doors should be effective. Depending on your budget the cameras are pretty reasonably priced anymore. Some outdoor versions may also have lights that are motion activated as well.
Such things should work for most people, unless you have a particularly nice home that may stand out and people may scout out ahead of time and realize what's going on.
 
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SpoonJuly

Guest
#3
#3
All that sounds good for most folks but not in my case.
The only access to my property is 5 miles down a National Forrest road and then another mile down my private drive. The only power we have is solar. No cable TV. No phone lines. We have satellite internet.
During the summer, campers often come down my drive way by mistake. We usually have a nice conversation, I give them directions to the campground and everything is good.
My concern is if no one is home, some one might take advantage and help themselves to what ever they want.
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#4
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,974
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#4
one may put up barbed-wire-razor-wire-cameras-alarms-dogs-ETC. =
if the 'world' wants to get in, they will come' -
but,
if God is our Protector, then even if they do violate our space, what ever happens
will be our TEST of FAITH and thus our actions will demonstrate our 'TRUST'...

it may be to 'run like hell', lol, or 'pick-up an ax', God forbid, but, if we Love and Serve, then firstly,
(The Holy Spirit will always be our guide)...
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#5
Aug 13, 2014
27,701
9,629
113
#5
SpoonJuly said:
All that sounds good for most folks but not in my case.
The only access to my property is 5 miles down a National Forrest road and then another mile down my private drive. The only power we have is solar. No cable TV. No phone lines. We have satellite internet.
During the summer, campers often come down my drive way by mistake. We usually have a nice conversation, I give them directions to the campground and everything is good.
My concern is if no one is home, some one might take advantage and help themselves to what ever they want.
Click to expand...
If you are living completely off the grid you are probably smart enough to have already thought of what I'm about to ask, but I have to ask it anyway...

Have you tried a "Private Drive" sign to keep campers from making the mistake of thinking your driveway is the road?

I know it's a pretty obvious solution, but it seems like it would also be a pretty effective one. Have you tried it already and it didn't work? If so, why did it fail?
 
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Ruby123

Guest
#6
#6
Maybe you could get a housesitter. Ask friends or people at church if any of them would be interested in housesitting for the length of time you are away.
In Australia we have a website called "Aussie Housesitters" with a list of people with police checks and references of housesitting jobs that they have completed. They don't get paid but they use the opportunity to have a break from their usual surroundings. Some who live in the city use it as an opportunity to holiday in the country. I have done housesitting myself.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#7
Aug 13, 2014
27,701
9,629
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#7
I just googled and we have the same thing here in the USA. House sitters America.
 
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SpoonJuly

Guest
#8
#8
Lynx said:
If you are living completely off the grid you are probably smart enough to have already thought of what I'm about to ask, but I have to ask it anyway...

Have you tried a "Private Drive" sign to keep campers from making the mistake of thinking your driveway is the road?

I know it's a pretty obvious solution, but it seems like it would also be a pretty effective one. Have you tried it already and it didn't work? If so, why did it fail?
Click to expand...
Seems many people can not read or just ignore the signs I have posted.:(
 
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SpoonJuly

Guest
#9
#9
Ruby123 said:
Maybe you could get a housesitter. Ask friends or people at church if any of them would be interested in housesitting for the length of time you are away.
In Australia we have a website called "Aussie Housesitters" with a list of people with police checks and references of housesitting jobs that they have completed. They don't get paid but they use the opportunity to have a break from their usual surroundings. Some who live in the city use it as an opportunity to holiday in the country. I have done housesitting myself.
Click to expand...
Hard to find anyone willing to live off grid, no TV, 18 miles to town, 6 miles to nearest neighbor for 6 to 8 weeks.
Don't think I would like strangers in my home that long.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#10
Aug 13, 2014
27,701
9,629
113
#10
SpoonJuly said:
Seems many people can not read or just ignore the signs I have posted.:(
Click to expand...
Tourists. Got to love them. Too busy seeing the sights to be able to see the sign right in front of them.

I guess a picture of a shotgun, although much easier to understand, would not give quite the impression you want...
 
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SpoonJuly

Guest
#11
#11
Lynx said:
Tourists. Got to love them. Too busy seeing the sights to be able to see the sign right in front of them.

I guess a picture of a shotgun, although much easier to understand, would not give quite the impression you want...
Click to expand...
Is tourists season like deer season? Is there a limit?;)
 
Pemican

Pemican

Senior Member
#12
Sep 27, 2014
959
246
43
#12
Being away for 6 - 8 weeks is a long time. How about a locked gate & private property sign at the beginning of your 1 mile driveway.
Whenever I go on a trip I take normal precautions but put up a prayer and ask God to protect my property while I am gone. Our lives are in His hands. Disaster does happen sometimes, but it is all known to God and should be viewed as a part of His plan and purpose for your life. Nothing takes God by surprise, and there are no accidents in the plan of God. Be courageous and do what you think is right.
 
KatyCinn

KatyCinn

New member
#13
Dec 5, 2022
2
1
3
Arizona City
#13
Going away and leaving your house without protection is pretty dangerous. Don't hesitate to install security cameras.
 
Dariadonashkina

Dariadonashkina

New member
#14
Oct 28, 2022
2
1
3
#14
If I were you, I'd be worried too. Going away and leaving your house without protection is dangerous. We didn't have security cameras until last year. However, we installed them after a few housebreakings in our neighborhood.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#15
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#15
dont you have other family that can stay or house sit? son may know someone.

But then this thread is quite old. I'd pray if thats a risk you willing to take. Whoever does decide to squat there while you are gone will be lucky if dont get eaten by bears. Im thinking of Goldilocks.
 
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Debbiere

New member
#16
Sep 5, 2022
7
4
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#16
I hope you were able to solve this problem and you could travel your children.
In any case, I think that you need to think about the safety of your home, because you may have situations in life when you need to leave for a long time, and you should be ready for this. Everything happens in life.
 
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