BIRD THEFTS - THE INSIDE JOB

Information given by employees may help criminals gain access to your property. Owners should do background checks at their own expense. Checking all information on an application, including past employers is a must. Supplemental references can be supplied by a prospective employee. An interview can be conducted in the employee's home. Assessment of character is always important when hiring an employee who will have access to your birds.

Aviaries which hire the wrong employees may find that eggs disappear and birds "escape."

Encourage employees to come forward if they have been approached by "outside sources" asking for any information regarding layout and security of any facility.

In other words, thieves have been on your property with or without your knowledge. Singles, pairs and rare birds are sought out in discrete locations of aviaries, detailed knowledge of the layout of aviaries is known. Enough pillowcases, carriers and wire cutters are brought to remove exact numbers of birds.

Wire Fences

In 90% of all burglaries, cut fences have been the main access. Fences have been cut, climbed over, and rolled under. Wire cutters supplied by thieves have sometimes been the only evidence left behind.

Footers

Having the bottom three inches of your wire fence encased in a concrete footer around the perimeter of your property can prevent small or lean persons from sliding or rolling under your fence. This method of entry by thieves casing the property, will leave "NO" evidence that somebody as been there.

Steps

Wires found stretched horizontally across fencing, or the "squares" of fencing found bent to form a step or steps that a foot can fit into, may indicate thieves have been on your property, or are planning to come back onto your property. Thieves need a quick escape route and using your fence as a home made ladder can leave an owner in the dust.

Wood Fences

Planks were removed from wood fences allowing just enough room for a lean thief or juvenile to gain entry. Replace any rotting wood and check to see that all nails are secure and accounted for. Having a concrete footer butted-up against the bottom of a wood fence can prevent thieves from sliding under it.

Barbed Wire can be placed on the top of either a wire fence or a wood fence and can also be run along the bottom of interior fences.

Razor Wire can be run along the bottom of interior fences. Check local laws before installing any kind or razor wire.

Sand can be put down and used around perimeters of aviaries to detect footprints, other than the owners'. This should be maintained daily.

Fence Lines can be maintained for protection and privacy. Depending on your hardiness zone, foliage can be planted on the interior or exterior of fence lines.

Plants as Deterrents

The Senegal Date or Reclinata Palm (P. reclinata) or any of the Bougainvillea species have up two inch long spines that can deter thieves.

Perimeter and adjoining properties should be inspected daily. Look for tire tracks, footprints, trampled grasses, shrubs and weeds. Check your fences and adjoining property fences to see that they have not been cut, or cut and repaired by thieves to look "normal." This, in fact, may give some indication if persons have been on the outside perimeter of your property.

In some thefts, vehicles are backed onto adjoining properties, penetrating as many as two other fences, with as much as five acres between fences.

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