INSPECTION AND SECURITY SYSTEMS
CHECK PERIMETERS & EQUIPMENT
DAILY INSPECTIONS of outside equipment should be made.
At one farm motion detector lights were disabled by thieves. They came prepared with tools which enabled them to point the motion detector toward the sky. The breeder heard noise and went outside to check the premises, but was greeted by his dogs. Seeing that the motion light did not come on, he ventured no further. It was thought that the thieves had entered the property and adjusted the detector during daylight hours prior to the theft.
Repeat thefts have been very successful. Thieves enter properties in the same exact spot as before. A second theft has been known to occur anytime from two months to two years later. Numerous attempts may be made, on a weekly to monthly basis. Some first time and even second time thefts are not even reported to authorities.
SECURITY SYSTEMS
Three types of security systems are available.
- One of a kind systems can be put together by a creative property owner, adding the security that no outsider will have knowledge of the setup.
Systems including cameras, motion lights and other equipment can be purchased and owner-installed for a fraction of the cost of a professional installation.
- The "Mickey Mouse" System – this system refers to inexpensive, deficient equipment, especially motion detectors. There are many products offered on the market, make sure you purchase good equipment tailored to your needs. Some systems can also give a false sense of security.
At one farm thieves successfully cut exposed wires from a motion detector light, very simply disabling the system At a second farm thieves also disabled motion lights allowing for access in the removal of approximately 2000 birds.
Both of those breeders had already been burglarized once. They supplied poor protection equipment allowing for removal of birds twice.
- Professional alarm systems are an excellent way to secure your property; however, initial cost can be very expensive in addition to a monthly fee. Many companies offering good security systems will "custom secure" properties having birds.
- What is a hard wire system?
- Do they use a central station?
- What is a fault line monitor?
- Do I need a generator or battery operated system?
It is important to educate yourself by asking questions like:
Advertise the fact that your premises are alarmed by using warning decals.
There are drawbacks to alarm systems:
- Response from law enforcement can take from a half hour to three hours.
- Certain alarms can be triggered by lightning and bad weather, so alarms may be reset without ever checking the property for intruders. Getting up every hour to reset the system and talk to alarm companies can lead to sleepless nights in working households with children.
At 1:00 AM, a breeder's aviary alarm started going off every 30 minutes. After three hours of this, he decided the weather was the cause and shut the system down. In the morning he discovered that thieves had triggered the alarm from outside until he unwittingly shut it off and helped them steal his birds.