It is easy to settle into the creature comforts of your homestead, especially after spending countless hours curating the land and its resources for ultimate productivity and ecological balance. However, off-gridders and homesteaders are not immune to theft, no matter how far off the beaten path. These strategies keep your hard work safe.
Understanding the Risks
How can you set up defenses on your property unless you know what you are up against? Theft takes several forms, but wildlife and trespassers are the most prominent security threats. Depending on the layout of your homestead, equipment, livestock and crops are out in the open air or behind unlocked doors.
A more modern concern is cybertheft. Protecting data should be as important as physical assets, depending on how connected and data-driven the homestead is. Agriculture is a vulnerable demographic, so stay current with the best recommendations. The knowledge is more critical If you collect a lot of information about operations or use part of your homestead as a business.
The most deceptive security threat is the homeowners. Your land is a safe space, but leniency should not equate to complacency. You could be your top risk if you intentionally leave gates open or expensive lawnmowers unprotected. It is vital to be practical and realistic because you never know when a theft attempt will happen.
Additionally, becoming too lazy to close the gate one night may lead to a negligent habit that thieves pick up on. Other thieves know most off-gridders live far away from emergency services. They leverage isolation to their benefit because they know help may not arrive by the time they take what they want.
Assessing Vulnerabilities
Apply your knowledge to do a thorough risk assessment of the homestead. You must be hypercritical and acknowledge every fault appropriately, even though it is not ideal to admit safety gaps. Here are some examples of openings thieves might abuse:
- Holes in fencing and the perimeter
- Inadequate surveillance technology
- Lack of emergency response
- Insufficient insurance
You should also consider any opening with your visibility from where you are most frequently. For example, if your work shed is out of your line of sight from a porch, this is another surveillance issue, even if the building is locked and seemingly protected. Ideally, you will have visibility over every facet of the property from any location.
Do not let your home take all of your attention from the rest of your property. It is crucial to protect it, including underestimated entry points like windows and garage doors — especially when many off-gridders leave valuables in garages. However, make sure your risk assessment is balanced and holistic.
Fortunately, apps, smart devices and technology provide homesteads plenty of opportunities to do so. However, these will only be helpful if you practice cybersecurity hygiene.
Implementing Security Measures
Once you have made a list of priorities, install them one by one based on how much value you will receive in increased theft security. These are the most common ideas.
Cameras and Security Systems
The sight of a camera is enough to deter a thief, even powered down. They can connect to security systems and alarms so you can constantly access footage from every corner of the property.
Place them in spots where you have the most expansive range over all entrances, property edges and animals. Smart cameras have audiovisual cues to automatically notify residents if the system detects suspicious activity. These tools can be battery-operated or use Wi-Fi, so they work for those who live an off-grid life offline, too.
Visual Deterrents
As previously mentioned, the fact a camera is visible is enough to make a criminal second-guess. Here are a few other cues that are security measures by just being visible:
- Signs that say “beware of dog,” “no access road” or “no trespassing”
- A car parked in the driveway
- Porch lights are on
- TV is shining through the window
Fencing, Gates and Locks
These resources supplement the visuals cameras provide. Criminals and animals can power through a flimsy lock or wooden fence, so make sure they are powerful and intricate. Every door should have a deadbolt or PIN if it is electronic. Other options include chain locks or door stoppers to provide another layer of security. Place these on doors with the most expensive machinery behind them, such as tool sheds or equipment storage.
Regarding fences, you will want something sturdy and environmentally resistant. Robust woods or metal notify trespassers where your property line begins if you have long stretches around the perimeter. Ensure it is high enough to be a burden to cross but not so tall it is obstructive and inconvenient. Some homesteaders choose pointed fencing, such as wire or wooden spikes, though they could pose a safety hazard to nearby ranch animals and pets.
High-tech gates and driveway alarms now have sensors and intercom systems, where you may need to enter a code to obtain entry. It is a more luxurious expense, but it may be worth knowing who is attempting to access the main entrance at least.
Motion-Activated Lights
Lights demotivate thieves and keep you safe. Walking around your homestead at night may be a gorgeous display of stars, but headlamps and flashlights do not often provide the field of view you need to see oncoming threats. Sprinkling motion-activated lights throughout the property and on buildings help you from being startled after dark and spook incoming thieves.
Many lights are compatible with security cameras for a two-in-one solution. The duo is ideal because homesteaders can see potential criminals or wildlife scurry away on footage the following day. The light may provide enough of a hint on who or what it is so you can create a more specific security plan or file police reports.
Guard Dogs
You could post the “beware of dog” sign even if you do not own one, but having a protective pet is more threatening. The loud barking of a patrolling hound would scare predators and burglars alike. Plus, they double as a reliable alarm system.
You will need to train the dog to ensure it does not threaten other animals on-site and to appropriately identify who and what is and is not supposed to be around. Hounds are also perfect for pest control for smaller thieves of produce and flowers.
Leveraging Technology
Even if you have encountered several anti-theft technologies with motion-detecting lights and security cameras, the device catalog is deep and complex. There is security equipment for all levels of tech-savviness. Still, if you are proficient in the Internet of Things (IoT), or internet-connected devices, then there is another world of protective measures you can take.
Many of these devices link to central dashboards or apps, allowing you to gather data and control each item from your phone, whether a smart doorbell or a lightbulb in the barn. You can even bolster your perimeter with geofencing, which translates physical boundaries into digital spaces enhanced by GPS and RFID tracking technology. It provides a convenient and localized map of the boundary’s health.
Grab these views with electronic markers or even more advanced technologies like drones. Though this may seem overkill to some homesteads, it would be intensely practical, depending on how many acres you have. Walking each inch of the property every day is not feasible, so automating and expediting some of these evaluations could happen with remote monitors.
Community Engagement and Collaboration
More young people are seeing the benefits of living off the land because it aligns with their ecological point of view and desire to be self-sufficient. You may live in an off-grid community or have a few close neighbors. Preventing theft is easier if you know who is nearby and if you can connect with them for the greater cause of protecting everyone’s assets.
The mission is multifold because it allows you to familiarize yourself and form opinions about those closest to your homestead while starting critical conversations about how everyone may remain equally safe by pooling ideas. Community watch groups and similar organizations became so popular for these reasons.
Everyone nearby has a joint concern and wants to invest time and energy into ensuring problems don’t occur. If you connect with other homesteaders, then you develop peace of mind as you trust them. While a healthy dose of skepticism and self-sufficiency has utility, it should not ruin connections with other off-gridders.
For example, if someone experiences theft, they can relay what they know to the rest of the community. It helps others stay more vigilant and safeguard what the animals or individuals are targeting.
Developing trust with close residents does not mean you should be lenient about who you let on the property. Do not disclose codes or security infrastructure flippantly. Your setup should be exclusive knowledge to those on the homestead to make sure it is as protected as possible.
Training and Preparedness
If you want to be sure you and your loved ones remain safe during an attempted theft, consider taking courses in emergency response, basic first aid or self-defense. This may look different if your primary fears are wildlife attacking other animals or crops — in most cases, evacuation is the best course of action here. If you hunt and own firearms, proper permitting and training are essential for keeping everyone on the property safe and aware there is potential for shooting.
You may still want to leave the premises if the threat appears dangerous regardless of whether it is a human or other predator. No matter what, everyone on the homestead should be on the same page on how to respond to each type of threat. What instances require a shelter-in-place versus an evacuation? Who is in charge of calling authorities? Designing a well-tested and easy-to-understand plan will be crucial for remaining level-headed if it needs utilizing.
Securing Valuables and Essential Supplies
Placing as many barriers between valuables and thieves and animals could make even the most gifted burglar give up on the mission. Decide what you want to protect the most and find storage solutions that suit them.
Heavy machinery is twice as likely to be stolen than destroyed in severe weather. That means putting four-wheelers and heavy machinery like chainsaws in a secure shed requires different storing and locking mechanisms than jewels or identifying documents. Put these items in a safe and secure location.
Diversifying where you store precious or expensive items would be wise. Putting them all in the same place behind several defenses may seem like the ideal solution. However, thieves get more clever and resourceful daily. Therefore, having a gold mine of everything essential to keep the homestead thriving in one place would be catastrophic if the thief succeeded.
Securing supplies also refers to obtaining insurance policies for the most vital objects. Consider items on the land that would disrupt operations or threaten your livelihood. Paying out for new tools and equipment when you are already going through emotional stress is not ideal — having a policy to alleviate that stress is just as much of a security asset as a combination lock.
Sustainable Security Practices
While homesteaders often prioritize ecological balance, not all protective measures consider this, such as spiked or electric fencing. However, there are a few sustainable security practices environmental off-gridders can implement to live in accordance with their values. These fall under the umbrella of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), which could include:
- Planting thorny shrubbery with strategic and hard-to-cross landscaping
- Using renewable-powered tech devices
- Responsibly trimming trees to improve visibility
- Prioritizing natural access control and limiting entry points
CPTED is a powerful and unsuspecting way to keep thieves away from your valuables and loved ones for indoor and outdoor applications.
Keeping the Homestead Secure
Thieves look like animals munching on crops, hackers taking market sales numbers and thieves stealing tools. Numerous preventive measures are out there to protect off-grid homes, keeping precious resources and equipment safe and sound. Homesteaders should be optimistic because safety tools are more advanced and better equipped to deter theft than in history. The benefits rise with each implementation, so why not start immediately?
Leave a Reply