Caltrops: legality and reviews

This is likely the best advice I have seen in the intire post!

 

get a gun. teach your wife how to use the gun. buy better locks for doors and windows, get a good security system, motion sensing lighting, etc... if you really care about the well being of your family (i'm not doubting this, just saying) you will spend the extra money for an actual defense rather than just trying to hurt people's feet with pointy things

 

+1 on the Dog or a firearm.

Liability wise you could get hit with mechanical booby-trapping which is very illegal if you went with the caltrops.

 

You have thieves and trespassers on your property, and these are what you're looking into?

 

What's he going to do with a model tank?

 

put a bunch of legos on the ground, those hurt when you step on them

 

pew pew pew

 

Guess what... in almost every state in the nation- possibly all of them- if a trespasser, EVEN A THIEF get's injured on your property due to a malicious booby trap- YOU ARE FUCKED. Say good bye to that home because the thief isn't going to have to steal anything from it anymore, he will OWN IT. Yeah, 'Merika. I found this out after my house got robbed for the 3rd time. Told the cops I was just going to booby trap the house and he said the thief would get a hand slap for robbery and I would get 5 years for physical assault. Yeah, 'Merika.

 

Unfortunately this is true if you do not have it properly marked. We have questioned this law several times with local judges and officers. We own 65 acres of farmland (mostly used for recreational atv, fishing, hunting.) As long as it is posted and they step on your property you have the right to defend yourself and your property. Whether or not you can kill the guy depends on if he is armed or not. Talking with local cops and state cops in Indiana, they all said the exact same thing. If its posted and someone is threating your lively hood, you take what ever means necessary to defend your property. If someone has the nerve to step on our property while there are signs everywhere saying "trespassers will be persecuted and or shot on sight." That is their free will, and I have the free will to retaliate in the manners I feel necessary. In any case, you have the right place anything you want on the ground of your property however like most have said I would not place something down that you will have trouble picking up later. 2x4 with nails work extremely well in disabling vehicles. If you can purchase some hunting trail cameras and set them up to pick up car or trucks license plate. If you don't have to confront the person and can let the cops handle it, its better that way. However you do need to teach your wife how to shoot a handgun at least. If anyone enters your house and is unwelcome, you do not hesitate to shoot. All you have to say is they were attempting to inflict bodily harm to you and that's the end of that. REMEMBER: IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE TRIED BY 12 THEN CARRIED BY 6. A dog is also a great thing to have, not only for the company but for the protection. Plus they say kids that grow up with pets have less allergy problems later in life. The most important thing in life is family, so its is important you take necessary steps to protect your family. This is just my .02 best of luck~ Ribby

 

Game camera, tape over the flash. (mounted out of standing reach)

A legal version of a trip flare(quick search found these) of some sort to get them startled and bug out not giving them time to find/remove said game camera.

I would want NOTHING on my property that could result in any human/animal collateral damage.


Edit to add: I would go with a noise maker over a trip flare, just an example, wouldn't want to start a fire.

 

Is this the plan?..... If she sees headlights coming, your wife will throw out out a shit load of Caltrops in the driveway, of would they be previously laid out there for the long term?

 

The idea of these around the kids is a bit concerning.

I have three kids who range in age from teenager to preschool and holy hell do they get into everything. Even the most diligent parent forgets now and then, and if a kid steps on one of these they are getting an ED visit and tetanus shot at a minimum. Imagine explaining to a parent why their kid stepped on a caltrop in your yard?

Aulthough I dont have any direct experience, Im not convinced this would penetrate a boot, probably a sneaker. It would probably piss off a thief, and maybe a early warning if he yells, but its doubtful it would stop them

Kudos to you for looking at home security, but traps have questionable efficacy and legality. It would make sense to focus on other means of security such as beefing up doors, windows, locks, sensor lights, alarm, dog.

If wife says no guns, then no guns

 

add some poison to the tips

 

Moat and a drawbridge.

 

with archers in the towers.

 

I think you are approaching this the wrong way Chris.

Try