psychophipps
Member
Claymore mines.
They'll do the trick...
Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )
They'll do the trick...
Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )
ideas for area-denial?
- Thread starter wingnutx
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My wife and I were just discussing your problem and have a couple of ideas:
1) To start with, and not meaning to pry into your personal business, but why was the wall/fence built that way to begin with? Are there maybe some utilities buried there that you can't cover or block access to?
2) There's an organization to call regarding underground utilities etc.: http://www.azbluestake.com/main/main/index.html You'll probably need this info before extending the wall anyway & it's free.
3) Most anything you plant is going to take a while to grow large enough to be a deterent. In the meantime, it'll be vulnerable and may be destroyed.
4) If you do plant something, you'll most likely have to water it. Being familiar with the type of walls that are built in Phoenix & knowing something about irrigation, it might be somewhat of a pain to get water to the plants. Not to mention installing an irrigation timer.
5) Keep calling the cops. Maybe they'll get tired of coming out and do something more permanent for you.
6) Go to a city council meeting or two (or three) and complain loudly. Maybe they'll do something more permanent.
7) I second the metal sculpture idea, as long as it's heavy enough. Maybe build it on a cement base. Rebar is easy to work with, cheap and an object of art can have various angles built in.
8) Keep in mind that you're doing this next to a public street. People have been known to trip, fall, etc. and some innocent person just might land in or on whatever you've put in there. Can we say "lawsuit"? Heck, even a not-so-innocent person has been known to sue.
Just our thoughts. Good luck
1) To start with, and not meaning to pry into your personal business, but why was the wall/fence built that way to begin with? Are there maybe some utilities buried there that you can't cover or block access to?
2) There's an organization to call regarding underground utilities etc.: http://www.azbluestake.com/main/main/index.html You'll probably need this info before extending the wall anyway & it's free.
3) Most anything you plant is going to take a while to grow large enough to be a deterent. In the meantime, it'll be vulnerable and may be destroyed.
4) If you do plant something, you'll most likely have to water it. Being familiar with the type of walls that are built in Phoenix & knowing something about irrigation, it might be somewhat of a pain to get water to the plants. Not to mention installing an irrigation timer.
5) Keep calling the cops. Maybe they'll get tired of coming out and do something more permanent for you.
6) Go to a city council meeting or two (or three) and complain loudly. Maybe they'll do something more permanent.
7) I second the metal sculpture idea, as long as it's heavy enough. Maybe build it on a cement base. Rebar is easy to work with, cheap and an object of art can have various angles built in.
8) Keep in mind that you're doing this next to a public street. People have been known to trip, fall, etc. and some innocent person just might land in or on whatever you've put in there. Can we say "lawsuit"? Heck, even a not-so-innocent person has been known to sue.
Just our thoughts. Good luck
Any and all of the ideas mentioned would take less time and effort than including it inside your present fence.
I stand by my original statement, making someone else's life miserable by intentionally broken glass, noxious plants, jagged metal, etc. for a tiny piece of land that wasn't even important enough to include inside your fence is hardly an admirable attitude, and could be the opening shots in a long guerilla war, once you declare it.
As one noted pop psychologist is known to say: "Is this the hill you want to die trying to take?"
On a more constructive note, I would talk to the administrators of the church that hands out the clothes and other freebies, and see if they can get the word out to the people congregating there, which brings out another point: Have you ever talked to any of the people loitering around there of your concerns? It might get thrown back in your face, but that is the most civil place to start...
I stand by my original statement, making someone else's life miserable by intentionally broken glass, noxious plants, jagged metal, etc. for a tiny piece of land that wasn't even important enough to include inside your fence is hardly an admirable attitude, and could be the opening shots in a long guerilla war, once you declare it.
As one noted pop psychologist is known to say: "Is this the hill you want to die trying to take?"
On a more constructive note, I would talk to the administrators of the church that hands out the clothes and other freebies, and see if they can get the word out to the people congregating there, which brings out another point: Have you ever talked to any of the people loitering around there of your concerns? It might get thrown back in your face, but that is the most civil place to start...
SOG/MACV
Member
When I worked for a prior employer, one of my jobs was to roust the bums off of the edge of the property next to the river. A state worker told me that if you mix a 50/50 combination of bleach and ammonia then liberally spray it over the ground, the bums stay away. I must tell you that it worked like a charm.. Never had the problem again. Of course you may have to spray several times for it to have a long lasting effect.
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Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup...
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Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup...
Mixing bleach and ammonia is bad, umkay?
A quick Google search on "Mixing bleach and ammonia" returned 210,000 hits. At least the first 3 pages are articles on why this is dangerous. Mixing the two creates chlorine gas.
http://firstaid.about.com/od/hazardousmaterials/ht/bleachgas.htm
Chlorine gas is so dangerous, it was used as a chemical warfare agent in World War I.
STAY SAFE! Regardless of anything else that happens, if you smell a strong odor of chlorine (bleach) then you need to move out of the area to fresh air. It only takes a few moments for chlorine gas to overwhelm you
Besides the liability, the gas dissipates fairly rapidly in open spaces.
A quick Google search on "Mixing bleach and ammonia" returned 210,000 hits. At least the first 3 pages are articles on why this is dangerous. Mixing the two creates chlorine gas.
http://firstaid.about.com/od/hazardousmaterials/ht/bleachgas.htm
Chlorine gas is so dangerous, it was used as a chemical warfare agent in World War I.
STAY SAFE! Regardless of anything else that happens, if you smell a strong odor of chlorine (bleach) then you need to move out of the area to fresh air. It only takes a few moments for chlorine gas to overwhelm you
Besides the liability, the gas dissipates fairly rapidly in open spaces.
wingnutx
Member
I'm deliberately not doing anything dangerous to local residents, and I don't want to antagonize winos enough to give them a grudge. So far I simply call the cops and hope it will make the area an inconvenient one to camp in, so they'll move on to greener pastures. Unfortunately this fails when a new batch finds the area.
The area was where the (slightly recessed) detached garage opened onto the street, and that has been sealed up and is simply a freestanding building. This was all done before i owned the property. The spot the bums like to squat on is actually the old driveway.
We have asked the church to remind their patrons to not loiter in the area.
I agree, which is why I'm looking for more subtle ideas. I want to make the area undesirable as a hangout is all.
I may do that. I was thinking of welding together a rebar trellis, the growing vines on it. It would look nice, wouldn't be a dangerous nuisance, and is a heck of a lot easier than chipping up all the concrete and putting in 12 feet of block wall.
The area was where the (slightly recessed) detached garage opened onto the street, and that has been sealed up and is simply a freestanding building. This was all done before i owned the property. The spot the bums like to squat on is actually the old driveway.
We have asked the church to remind their patrons to not loiter in the area.
I agree, which is why I'm looking for more subtle ideas. I want to make the area undesirable as a hangout is all.
I may do that. I was thinking of welding together a rebar trellis, the growing vines on it. It would look nice, wouldn't be a dangerous nuisance, and is a heck of a lot easier than chipping up all the concrete and putting in 12 feet of block wall.
That sounds like a good solution. Will you have any problems watering the vines?
In case you're not aware of them, there are battery powered timers that attach to the water bib (faucet). One of those would make watering less of a hassle. You should be able to find one at most any hardware, landscaping supply or garden supply business.
sicario103
Member
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2006
- Messages
- 196
You can always "make" them go away. Assuming you want to deal with them directly and maybe make a few enemies.
or
Just call the cops and say that there are a bunch of drunk bums harassing young girls by exposing their private parts and making sexual advances.
or
Buy a couple of mases, a little squirt here and there every now and then when they are around and problem solved.
But seriously, you have to get rid of them because they can pose a real danger.... specially to women and children.....
or
Just call the cops and say that there are a bunch of drunk bums harassing young girls by exposing their private parts and making sexual advances.
or
Buy a couple of mases, a little squirt here and there every now and then when they are around and problem solved.
But seriously, you have to get rid of them because they can pose a real danger.... specially to women and children.....
WayneConrad
Member
Puppy said, "a couple of stratigically placed, dead, rotting fish would make the ally uninhabitable due to the putrid stench."
Oh, that's awful! I can only imagine. Might drive out the neighbors, too.
But I can understand if you're not in favor of puppy eating cactus
Oh, that's awful! I can only imagine. Might drive out the neighbors, too.
But I can understand if you're not in favor of puppy eating cactus
Why not wear some dirty, foul smelling clothes and beg them for money (for food, of course).
In all honesty the sprinkler would be the best idea. There's just something about the thought of a group of bums getting drenched by a sprinkler at 3 a.m. that just keeps me laughing.
In all honesty the sprinkler would be the best idea. There's just something about the thought of a group of bums getting drenched by a sprinkler at 3 a.m. that just keeps me laughing.
I have a certain amount of sympathy for the "bums". I doubt any of them really likes their current situation in life, but either are unwilling to do what has to be done to get out of that situation, or just don't know what it is going to take. I don't think I would particularly enjoy making their squalid life any worse.
The home owner's desire to have them go elsewhere is understandable. The sprinkler idea makes some sense. Maybe have it come on for a few minutes every half hour. That way the area is always damp and they probably will just go elsewhere.
wingnutx
Member
I'd like to not antagonize these guys, just make the area a bad place to camp. Spraying them with water would definitely antagonize them, and they have way more time on their hands than I do.
Thats why I suggested keeping the area damp by having the sprinkler go on a few minutes now periodically. They will see it is being sprayed regularly and just move on. I would not want to antagonize them as many such people are not completely rational. Better to just nudge them to go somewhere else. Plus, I would not feel right deliberately spraying them. It seems cruel to hose someone down who is in such a situation.
You can't really help them, but you really don't want them hanging around either, because it presents a potentially unsafe situation for your family.
Fencing the area off might be the simplest solution.
SoCalShooter
Member
cactus is a very good deterent. also claymores work well.
justatexasboy
Member
I had a similiar problem before. The answer is pretty simple. Do you have a dog? If so take your dog to that spot in the morning instead of the back yard. When your dog starts using the spot as a regular bathroom other dogs will too. Enough smelly landmines should do the work just fine. If it is actually your property and not an easement the city wont be able to say too much about it.
Smitty258
Member
The 3 "S"'s
Shoot.
Shovel.
Shut up.
Just kidding! As stated earlier, I'd just put a bunch of rough jagged rocks there.
A Rose bush is a good idea. It looks pretty and hurts like hell. It just needs to have a chance to grow without being trampled by some bum.
Shoot.
Shovel.
Shut up.
Just kidding! As stated earlier, I'd just put a bunch of rough jagged rocks there.
A Rose bush is a good idea. It looks pretty and hurts like hell. It just needs to have a chance to grow without being trampled by some bum.
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