We Americans are an articulate lot. We love showing the world how we feel about the world around us. We have hired an army from China to ensure that our thoughts on posters, bumper stickers, and shirts can be articulated very cheaply.
In more ways than just spreading your personal motto or post, the stuff you wear and the signs you hang will influence your life. In fact, in some cases, what you hang and what you wear will make you both liable and even make you a target in others!
The Power Of Deterrents
That said, when setting up real home security, the most effective tools you can use are deterrents. Generally, deterrents are inexpensive, and they can be incredibly successful. They are devices that can be used to deter offenders moving when they happen to your house, such as alarms, locks, lights and even signs.
If your house is a little less enticing than your neighbors or another home, they’ve been hiding, well, they’re working on your deterrents. To make criminals reconsider breaking into your home takes only a little thought.
Many Americans use signs for this, but in a break-in, those signs will simply make matters worse. Do you know the five signs on your property that you should stop using?
Related: 25 Things To Improve Your Home Security
Variability In State Laws
Neither this website nor I, give legal advice in this article. We’re not eligible to give this kind of advice! We simply point out some problems and questions that occur when you start hanging those kinds of signage on your home and property.
These are tough times, and all of us are searching for something we can do to be more prepared for the future. With what we do, we must be vigilant and thorough.
No Trespassing Violators Will Be Shot
This is a common sign which allows the owner to be motivated. A sign like this gives you the power to fundamentally intimidate anyone who might step on your land.
Let’s be frank, it’s hard not to be scared when we see awful things happening in the streets of our country. Some fill the hole of fear with violence.
What’s important to note is that you can only shoot in self-defense. You would certainly go to prison if you do it for some other reason! So if anyone sees your sign and disregards it, they can take whatever they want from your house, and you can’t fire at them unless they pose a physical danger to you and yours.
If you are defending yourself on your property, where these signs can get you into even more trouble, they can make the legal case that you are a mad prepper who has been dying to shoot someone with your AR and even hung signs up about it!
Beware Of Dog
The ‘Beware of Dog’ sign is one of the most fascinating and dangerous signs that you can set up.
While you might be able to understand that if your dog bites someone, a sign that says something like “My Rottweiler is the Security System,” or something like that, would not support your situation.
The ‘Beware of Dog’ sign can, however, do as much harm to your case as not getting one! This depends on the laws of the state, but you just know it might be a problem.
The Takeaway: If you suspected that your dog was vicious and the sign could prove it, you gave the first bit of proof by way of signage when it bites.
Fake Security Signs
Be cautious with this, as it may seem tempting to post some fake security signs as a deterrent.
The difference between a fake sign and a true one would be understood by experienced criminals. They can immediately realize that you have no protection system if a thief sees a fake sign in your yard.
Don’t assume that when breaking into a house, criminals are not well versed in the technologies they might face.
This might allow someone to take advantage of breaking into your house. They’re going to say that you are unprotected.
What About Bumper Stickers?
Everyone has something to say and something to hide in this era of hypersensitivity! In the form of tee shirts and bumper stickers, this can also manifest itself.
Even if your home is free of any signs, the stuff you put on your bumper will tell people a lot.
What do you think a suspect sees in a sticker with an anti-gun bumper? They realize that a weapon possibly would not protect the homeowner.
There are all sorts of things from the messages you put on the back of your parked car that criminals can deduce.
Flags
While you might not look at flags as signs, they definitely convey a message about the individuals who hang the flags.
Don’t you believe me? What would you think if you traveled down the street and saw an ISIS flag flying over one of your neighbors’ homes? And what of a swastika?
Flags can both create a case against you and discourage people from making your home a target, just like the signs we mentioned. I have to believe that if you fly a flag with an AR15 on it, you won’t see a lot of looting accidents.
That’s the same old story. There is no flag, sign or bumper sticker that gives you legal immunity. The flag you fly tells people a lot about you, and that’s something you need to be mindful of.
Related: Securing Your Home by Reinforcing Doors
Whether it’s a poster, a bumper sticker, or a flag, you have to be thoughtful when sending out a message to the public. While your friends may think that being radical and dangerous in your signage is cute, just understand that you can turn that kind of language against you.
For the owner of the property, quick and efficient signing with clear language can be very effective. These signs can be used as more evidence against someone who may be looting, hiding or just creeping and wrecking your house.
The fewer you put out there, the better your defense is, in most situations. Your domain is defined by a simple “No Trespassing” sign and can be used against someone who tries to ignore the sign and be malicious.
