Dealing with idjits trespassing/burning/shooting my stuff?

I'm searching for some solutions for people coming on to some private family campground and messing with our stuff. The land is pretty isolated and away from people, nobody is just wandering in and happening to be there, it's surrounded by cornfields with a definite driveway to get there. They've shot our stuff, burned our things, broken into our RV, and generally trashed the place. They also tore down our no tresspassing signs. The local PD hasn't done much because it's out of the way and we have no way to identify them. We're planning on putting up more signs and posting a trail cam (that they'll probably shoot up). Short of showing up randomly with my 12GA, what can I do to keep these idiots out? Kendall County, IL for reference.

 

Here in VA its a misdemeanor to trespass on private property, but the punishment is increased if the property is posted, and even more sigificantly kicked up if theyre hunting without permission (i.e. carrying a rifle or shotgun) . I think youre going the right route by posting the property and installing a trail camera. You might want to consider a second or even third camera as well as putting a sturdy gate at the end of the driveway. If they cant drive back there, their laziness might keep them away. If not, the cameras might help identify them.

 

Purple paint was going to be my go to before escalation. They can rip the signs down but the paint should be harder for them to avoid.

I mean, it's arson to burn stuff that isn't yours, so we're already dealing with a forcible felony in IL.

 

No trespassing signs, purple paint (if your state recognizes it) and a gate. I have trail cams set up on my property, set them high looking down. With a locked gate and signs that's two charges instead of one (at least in NC)

 

Had a similar problem 30 some years ago and this is what I did. Picked up a 10 foot 2x8 board. loaded it up with nails and buried it in the dirt road. Next day the car was still there with 2 flats on the passenger side.

 

I already got the no-go on that from family. Most of my ideas are shot down for either being unsafe for kids or too expensive ATM.

 

A couple of hungry pit bulls might help

 

• Illinois: "Purple Paint Law"
• Missouri: "Purple No Trespassing"
• North Carolina: Purple paint on trees to serve as new ‘no trespassing’ sign.
• Maine: Purple Paint - No Trespassing (adopted in 2012)
• Florida: Purple Paint - No Trespassing
• Idaho: Flouresent Orange Paint
• Arkansas: Purple Paint - No Trespassing
• Montana: Orange Paint - No Trespassing
• Arizona: Orange Paint - No Trespassing
• Kansas: Purple Paint – No Trespassing
• West Virginia: Purple Paint – No Trespassing / No Hunting (adopted in 2016)

 

Folks used to do that in my neck of the woods back in the day. It turned into a mess where folks were sticking rebar in cotton/corn/peanut/bean fields and it would destroy a picker, talk about escalation. From trespassing to a 10-30k repair bill.

 

Good advice for the cow gates, I did this on the one at the end of my driveway. Also put JB weld on the bolt threads for the hinges. I figure I'll cut it off if I need to remove the gate for any reason.

 

What I found on the interwebs. May not be complete.

 

I'm 50/50 on that approach, the law may tend to lean towards booby-trapping in some cases. There was a story awhile back about two brothers who used to ride their ATV's in the woods and whatnot. They were trespassing and knew it because of the signs and purple paint, but allegedly they stuck to the trail that had been there since before they were riding and never tore up the property. One day the owner decided to run wire across the trail and it ended up clotheslining the younger brother and killing him. Owner of the land was found guilty of manslaughter.

All it takes is someone to get hurt or die, and if they can prove you're directly responsible (regardless of them trespassing), it could be legal trouble for you. Obviously trespassing in dangerous areas and dying is their fault; but if you've set a "trap" and they get hurt, that's on you to my knowledge.

 

SSS.....

 

Texas has a purple paint law also, in this case trail cameras would work but be sure to put a couple at the site and one on the road in so you can get their plate number.

 

Looks like this is going to have to be the solution. It's the least invasive thing I can do I think but still catch/track these guys.

 

How long have u had the property?

Have u pissed anybody off lately?

 

It's been in the family since the 1800's, and no, not me personally at least.

 

Yessir. No place to get a good sandwich unless you count Italian Beef or Gyros.

 

Seems like a personal thing what with nothing getting stolen. Some people got nothin better to do than to plot revenge on somebody they feel “disrespected” them
Have you guys run anybody off the place recently?

 

I do lol