Fort Apache, Newark!

[recurve]

I am so sick of getting stuff nicked from outside my house (and inside for that matter). I've just had a small generator go from outside the house that I had been using to run the computer and central heating during power cuts. I've had two motorcycles go from the back garden. My shed has been raided and all my power tools taken, and an outhouse had the lock smashed off and a chainsaw stolen.

I'm now sorting out CCTV cameras to cover the outside of the house and my garden and shed. I hate having to do this, turning my home into a fortress! Why do I have to defend myself against the scum who think it's ok to relieve me of what I've earned? I realise that I haven't always taken the best precautions, but why the hell should I have to?

Yes, stuff is insured, but it is now at the point where my insurance company are loading my policy to the extent that it's not worth making claims for small(ish) items, and if I'm not going to the trouble of claiming, there is precious little point in reporting it to the police, as their workload is such that all they are able to do is issue a crime number and say they will keep their eyes open.

Sorry [/rant]

[Bantam]

I had my shed broken into a couple of times at my old house.

Strangely the police picked our stuff up more than once as they knew who was doing it.

However, my solution was twofold;

1: A 110dB magnetic catch shed alarm.
2: An electric fence power brick (battery powered) which was linked to the metal doorhandle and the metal bolthasp on the outside.

When I went to bed, I had a rough switch in my kitchen which would arm the electric fence. If anyone touched the doorhandle or lock they would get a huge bolt. Not enough to kill them but enough to sting a little.

I got caught out once or twice, however, it was better than getting burgled.
Never was burgled again!

[recurve]

Funnily enough, I've got an unused electric fence unit

Mind you, when it kills a burglar with a pacemaker I'll probably get arrested!