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Beefing up home security... is this legal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 79588
  • Start date Start date
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Deleted member 79588

Sep 19, 2006
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#1
So I'm leaving my college house to go back home for both Thanksgiving and Xmas breaks. Our house has been broken into twice during breaks this year (December and June). I put in a solid door on the back porch with 2 deadbolts (it was hollow with one deadbolt) and also put an extra deadbolt on the front glass panel door that can only be unlocked with a key from both sides.

Are there any legal ramifications to putting a bear trap on my back porch in front of the door? Or maybe just inside the door? I know rigging up a shotgun is illegal, some dude went to jail for it a few years back, but what about a bear trap?

Maybe some caltrops would do the job...
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#3
Depends....

some states have tougher or more lax laws in this department.....

I would check with local law enforcement to see how far you can push the envelope.....here in Texas they just passed a law that allows me to use LETHAL force to protect my home

I would also suggest timers for the lights, stereo, Tv etc. to give the impression someone is home, and an alarm never hurts (even the cheap one that stick on the back of the door and run on batteries). Install motion lights outside, they could even be set to trigger lights inside to reinfoce the illusion somebody is home.
 
#4
Leaving the radio on a talk station can also help. I think most of the time if a potential robber sees lights and hears talking he'd rather move on to the next spot (unless he knows no one is home because you have a pile of newspapers in your driveway).

If it's the kind of bear trap that will just hold him there then ok, but if it's the kind that's going to do serious damage... eh... he could probably sue you either way though, but just imagine if it's a kid screwing around on your property. Naughty naughty, but you don't want to hurt him.

Is trapping legal in your state? I would guess that if the answer is no, trapping humans would also be illegal.
 
#5
I agree with snakeman, use motion lights and/or use timers their pretty cheap and the stick on alarms work pretty well also. Id put 3 on a door, more noise causes more attention. Most thiefs wont bother with a house with those things. If all that fails, then its someone you know ripping you off.
 

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