FabSwingers.com forum: Fence panel vandalism

By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

My fence panels, because they are in a public walkway or vandalised on a weekly basis at the moment.

Punched, kicked, and smashed to the ground on occasion. We think we do know who is doing it and they are teenage boys, but we are not sure how to prevent it.

With considered getting a stronger than panels, but because of the length of that it is not financially viable.

We have the police involved and have reported each incident.

They are working with us as much as they can but there is very little that they can do.

The other thing we can think of is getting CCTV camera and then handing footage over to the police and then they will prosecute the offenders if they can be identified.

Has anybody got any other ideas of how to deal with this. We wouldn't want to put something on the fence that could hurt them and also that would be illegal, The fence is too low for something like anti vandal paint to identify them, but that also has various legal implications.

Any advice would be welcomed as we are very upset and frustrated with the situation.

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By *rincessvenusCouple
over a year ago

Hull

lay inwaiting for them kick the shit out of themthe police wont do anything tell them they attacked you you defendedyourself

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sounds like you've covered the bases, going with the CCTV plan is probably the right way to go.

Alternatively, does the fence 'need' to be there in the first place? Maybe instead of continually paying out to replace it, ditch it.

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By *nequeenslutWoman
over a year ago

rugeley

put rusty nail through the fence at fist high

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By *W ChapMan
over a year ago

Swindon

I walk down a public alley way that has steel

fencing down it, obviously for the same reason (public footpath to beach). Looks like fencing but not wooden. Wouldn't withstand a real kicking but better that standard fencing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Best thing is cctv. Now very cheap. As long as you dont overlook other properties you can put it up. Had the same issues on footpath in my area. Is it the same time each week?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Do you own a cross bow?

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By *W ChapMan
over a year ago

Swindon

Or plant something very prickly down there? Berberis?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Have you tried talking to them? Not angry just talking. We had a similar issue a few years ago. I went out and just talked to them one day as they passed (what their weekend plans were etc), in an adult way. I guess they were used to being shouted at and talked down to like children because after that the fence was left alone.

I know I was really lucky though.

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By *andVBCouple
over a year ago

Wrexham

Keep a lion in your garden.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My old house used to be in a wind-tunnel-like location, funnelling the wind from a certain direction. Fence panels were replaced countless times.

I got a proper professional fence built. Never had a problem since. That thing will still be there in 20 years.

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By *Devil77Man
over a year ago

West Midlands

paint the anti-vandal paint on the public side of the fence. if its being done in an evening or night time,they'll never know and be covered in the paint,and its very hard to remove.

i put this on a wall kids used to climb and it stopped them when they wrecked their clothes.

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By *ohohoWoman
over a year ago

Up North

"Keep a lion in your garden."

Even better - keep a whole pride of lions in your garden!

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By *andVBCouple
over a year ago

Wrexham

"Keep a lion in your garden.

Even better - keep a whole pride of lions in your garden!

You can never have too many lions.

Words to live by, those.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Put a sign on your fence saying "Please don't kick my fence down".

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By *ophieslutTV/TS
over a year ago

Central

I'd engage crime prevention staff from the police, so that whatever you do is based on police advice. It's an horrendous situation to be in but it could be easy to become liable for other costs, such as claims for damages. It may be good to speak to local councilors too, as potentially the local authority could improve something there.

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

The fence panels have to be there because if they weren't there then they could just walk straight into the back garden and have access to the house and shed.

The fence panels are the only barrier between the walkway and my garden. I can't put anti vandal paint on them because an innocent member of the public might accidentally brush against it. I believe you can only use that kind of paint over 6 foot and the fence is 6 foot itself.

It happens at a different time and a different might each time, so I can't really wait out there for them in a dark alleyway. Although I have an idea who it is I can't be sure and we have asked them about it and they denied it.

A stunder fence is a good answer and I have been looking into it.

I would hate for I

It to be bashed down as if it was a challenge, and cost even more money than constantly replacing £25 fence panelso though...

Nonetheless, that and CCTV camera may be the way forward.

It is very frustrating to be the victim of this meaning less crime though.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

This happened to a friends Mother and eventually she had a brick wall built instead of a wooden fence. The top layer of bricks were set at an angle to give it an 'ornamental' appearance but also to make it very hard to grab the top of the wall and climb up as would be painful to grip

Worked

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By *mmmMaybeCouple
over a year ago

West Wales

Unfortunately the school bus stops outside ours in the morning so there's usually a dozen kids waiting, some took to leaning on the fence as it aged a couple of panels/posts broke.

I didn't get him for this reason but walking the dog past them just before the bus comes. (He's friendly, but very big) with his muzzle on while quietly asking them not to lean on the fence worked just fine

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By *lactontogMan
over a year ago

Clacton on Sea

"paint the anti-vandal paint on the public side of the fence. if its being done in an evening or night time,they'll never know and be covered in the paint,and its very hard to remove.

i put this on a wall kids used to climb and it stopped them when they wrecked their clothes."

Yes the anti drying paint is a good detergent as they get a clip around the ear off their parents for ruining their clothes.

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By *lactontogMan
over a year ago

Clacton on Sea

"paint the anti-vandal paint on the public side of the fence. if its being done in an evening or night time,they'll never know and be covered in the paint,and its very hard to remove.

i put this on a wall kids used to climb and it stopped them when they wrecked their clothes.

Yes the anti drying paint is a good detergent as they get a clip around the ear off their parents for ruining their clothes."

Deterrent that shold say lol.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You have to be really careful with cctv looking at public properties.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Spread a rumour that a serial killer lives in your house and lurks in the garden at night.

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

"You have to be really careful with cctv looking at public properties."

It is with the police advice that we are potentially installing CCTV cameras. I will check with them that the positioning is ok.

It would be recording our own fence bordering a public path or alleyway I'm not sure what it is classed as.

But I will have them check that they feel it is appropriate.

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By *a Fee VerteWoman
over a year ago

Limbo

A couple of years ago I'm sure I remember reading about an anti-teenager sonic device that emitted a very unpleasant sound only teenagers could hear. I think shop owners for example would install this to deter them from loitering about outside.

I don't know how easily that sort of thing is to get hold of, how expensive it is, or even if it's legal on private property but it might be worth looking into? If it's really that painful for them I doubt they'd hang round long enough to vandalise the fence.

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By *obyn GravesTV/TS
over a year ago

1127 walnut avenue

being an ex fence panel vandal.. Hey i said ex.. I'm a reformed character now..(I've moved on to demolishing brick walls)nail some batons just below the top on the public side of the fence this makes it harder to grab the panels and pull them off.. which is what most fence panel vandals like doing..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"You have to be really careful with cctv looking at public properties.

It is with the police advice that we are potentially installing CCTV cameras. I will check with them that the positioning is ok.

It would be recording our own fence bordering a public path or alleyway I'm not sure what it is classed as.

But I will have them check that they feel it is appropriate."

I know that when I kept having trouble with bailiffs trying to collect debt from previous tenants the police told me that I couldn't put up CCTV on my front door because it would cover a shared pathway. So I'd take their advice to the letter, and possibly seek a second opinion as well.

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By *eavenNhellCouple
over a year ago

carrbrook stalybridge

find someone who works on the railway they can buy used sleepers for around £20 for a tonne (approx 20 ) buy them and install as your fence bottom twofeet burried in concrete top 4/6ft sticking up NOBODY will punch or kick that down and will last forever had this ay my old house fence was 25 years old when we moved in and is still going strong now 21 years later

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Is the walkway a public right of way, and owned by the local authority, Could they be responsible for for the boundary to their path, if the public are damaging i.e. your fence, Could the walkway be blocked off with 6ft chain link fencing at both ends.

Alternatively get a load of pig shit dumped at both ends along with some hawthorn bushes. the down side of this is the smell, and magpies nesting. 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy, 3 for a girl, and 4 fuck off you boys.

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

yes it is a public right of way, as such I don't think that we could put anything that would upset other people around or restrict access to it.

But it's interesting you say might they may be sharing responsibility in some way

for damage done to it

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By *ig1gaz1Man
over a year ago

bradford

you can put cameras up to protect your property even on public highways where a car is parked

id advise you against doing so as all the youths will do is put on there hoodys and bye bye fencing yet again if you do catch them doing so

best way is just change your fencing to a wire fencing and steel posts in the ground if you still want your own fence then install on the public highway side of the fence

council should allow it due to the criminal damage been caused by the passing pedestrians

something on this range of wire fence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X501aS0Yis0

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

Thanks you

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By *unandbuckCouple
over a year ago

Sheffield

cctv is the answer. Great little external units available quite cheap. They are ultra easy to use and set up. We put one up, just a little mains adaptor and it links onto your wifi. You can watch it on your phone or ipad from literally anywhere with wifi or 3g. They record onto a little sd card. They automaticaly record on movement if you like.

Show the recording to the police or parents.

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By *ig1gaz1Man
over a year ago

bradford

"Is the walkway a public right of way, and owned by the local authority, Could they be responsible for for the boundary to their path, if the public are damaging i.e. your fence, Could the walkway be blocked off with 6ft chain link fencing at both ends.

block it off at your own peril you have 30-60 days to remove it or the council will do then you get there bill for the removal of it

neighbours up the rd did it and thats what happened to them

as goes for your other comment council will see you in court for doing so

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"put rusty nail through the fence at fist high

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By *innamon!Woman
over a year ago

no matter

Catch them on your phone camera then follow them home. call the police and wait for them to arrive and press charges

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

replace each broken panel with concrete gravel boards

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By *osieWoman
over a year ago

Wembley

Get advice from the Police but the CCTV idea sounds the best. I am certain that the camera can be adjusted or located so as not to capture the neighbouring properties

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Lying in wait is definitely the answer...wearing dungarees and a hoodie, they won't see you grinning behind your hockey-mask as you fire-up the chainsaw...

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By *imiUKMan
over a year ago

Hereford

"Or plant something very prickly down there? Berberis? "

So much this. Berberis is hideously prickly and grows like stink.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i live on an estate with a facebook page - we have helped police with homewatch issues and crime - quite a few have cctv and the last few days 3 lads nicked a car - one got out and kicked the tyre - then drove off with door open - police have caught 2 of them cos of various footage - so cctv works - community police make a more obvious presence and more patrol car making random trips etc - someof us have dummy cameras but word will spread that cctv is used for conviction and hopefully wasters will think twice -

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By *ENGUYMan
over a year ago

Hull

I had this problem relating to commercial premises next to a housing estate.

CCTV is excellent, just enlist help of local Crime Prevention Officer in exactly what angle you can site the camera(s). Also, it's a good idea to consult Information Commissioners' rules on CCTV siting; you can get this online.

Anti climb paint is invaluable but the key factor is you MUST put up warning signs that such paint has been applied to the fence. The signs must be of the type in yellow & black on a white background.

Short of that, put mines down, get attack dogs ready to kill the yobs and machine gun emplacements with sensor triggers to mow the sods down!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A more permanent wall.

Even if they were apprehended someone else could just come and do the same.

I'd want my property to be secure.

Some CCTV cameras also for at preventative measures at the least.

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By *iamondjoeMan
over a year ago

Glastonbury

#firstworldproblems

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By *osieWoman
over a year ago

Wembley

"Or plant something very prickly down there? Berberis?

So much this. Berberis is hideously prickly and grows like stink. "

I am not certain if this will be legal but if it is, then an excellent solution

Will take time to grow and will require maintenance

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By *entenTeaCouple
over a year ago

Buckley North Wales

Try chain link fence in front of the main panels. The chain link will absorb the impact forces.

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By *ig1gaz1Man
over a year ago

bradford

if using cctv 1080 is the better camera 960 is also record really good

this is for swann cctv at laptops direct one of the cheaper places

Set & forget by recording continuously from 4 channels for 30 days+ onto a 500GB hard drive, even longer with motion detection

3 terrabyte upgradeable ( 3TB )

also note poor quality gives longer recording times higher quality gives clearer images on cctv that includes them all

the better cameras are an ip camera

3MP VariFocal CCTV IR IP Camera POE ( or higher ) they are very clear on there images and also use an internet wire

a computer is also needed

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By *ENGUYMan
over a year ago

Hull

"Or plant something very prickly down there? Berberis?

So much this. Berberis is hideously prickly and grows like stink.

I am not certain if this will be legal but if it is, then an excellent solution

Will take time to grow and will require maintenance"

Prickly foliage, especially when trained to grow up trellis panelling attached to the existing fence is perfectly legal. Some types can be purchased already installed in GrowBags and I know of some Police Forces in the UK who advocate their use.

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By *unandbuckCouple
over a year ago

Sheffield

"#firstworldproblems"

Fortunately there aren't many threads about lack of clean drinking water and malaria. 99% of posts are 'first world problems' and first world fun.

This problem upsets the poster on a daily basis and effects their quality of life.

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By *ex LutherMan
over a year ago

Closer than you think

"#firstworldproblems

Fortunately there aren't many threads about lack of clean drinking water and malaria. 99% of posts are 'first world problems' and first world fun.

This problem upsets the poster on a daily basis and effects their quality of life."

Well said

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

erect a ranch style fence {google ranch style} double sided but bring the fence posts closser together that way it takes a lot of kicking to bring it down giving u or someone time to ph the police

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Put up signs saying CCTV in operation. Plus one dummy camera.

See if that stops it - plus you don't fall foul of the issue of recording a public footway.

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By *unandbuckCouple
over a year ago

Sheffield

"Put up signs saying CCTV in operation. Plus one dummy camera.

See if that stops it - plus you don't fall foul of the issue of recording a public footway."

I'd not considered the problem of recording a public place. Personally, I would do it regardless, if a complaint ever came, just apologise and move the camera, but I don't think that would happen.

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By *osieWoman
over a year ago

Wembley

"#firstworldproblems

Fortunately there aren't many threads about lack of clean drinking water and malaria. 99% of posts are 'first world problems' and first world fun.

This problem upsets the poster on a daily basis and effects their quality of life."

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I would do a number of things, depending on money, time and patience. The idea of cctv is great, I live in the country, so I use a wildlife cam as a security camera. It's battery operated, so I can put it on any tree at the end of my drive. I have had cctv by the house too. This was all driven by nuisance neighbours (both old men in their late 60s and a daughter in her 40s). I suggest cctv, so you can get footage to show police and parents, and take advice from the police -in writing- as to how and where to have it pointing. If you think you know who it is, let them know that you are taking steps to stop the vandalism. I would also use reinforced things behind the panels, like the railway sleepers mentioned to prevent kicking in and the baton across the top to prevent pulling it down. You could also plant thorn bushes as hedges along the inside of the fence...Burburis I think it is called. It has wicked thorns and has been used in the past to prevent ingress as no one in their right mind would push through it to get onto a property. It will take a while to grow, but it would be an effective barrier behind a missing panel. The steel chainlink fencing in front of the fence panels sounds like a plan too, but expensive. If they were determined to have it down, all they would need would be wire cutters. Graffiti I would ignore.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Try chain link fence in front of the main panels. The chain link will absorb the impact forces."

By far one of the best ideas if you can afford it or maybe get on to the council if it is a public riight of way and tell them that you are going to start billing them unless they go halves with you on the chain link fence

if they tell you to get off then get on loacal radio and get thyhem on you're case they will bager the council live on radio

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By *unandbuckCouple
over a year ago

Sheffield

"replace each broken panel with concrete gravel boards"

I'd thought about those too. But then remembered I've seen them snapped when kicked hard in the middle. Someone mentioned railway sleepers, they are cheapish, if reclaimed and could be B grade ones. But needs a bit of a building job.

OP what length of fencing is affected?

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

It runs right from the front of the house all the way to the back so in total it's probably about 25 metres

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

"Put up signs saying CCTV in operation. Plus one dummy camera.

See if that stops it - plus you don't fall foul of the issue of recording a public footway."

I have already done this the sign is up and the dummy camera. It has made no difference.

Thank you so much for everybody who has offered such great advice.

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By *litterbabe OP Woman
over a year ago

hiding from cock pics.

The police have said if we do get CCTV evidence they will be handling the prosecution

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It's bloody frustrating isn't it? We used to get kids punching and kicking holes in the fences regularly, so we, rather childishly perhaps, put plywood behind them. Didn't stop it completely, but a) reduced it significantly, b) probably resulted in some sore hands/feet and c) can't see whether there's any holes or not now

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By *ilvercharmCouple
over a year ago

Our gate

Sounds like an average day with our neighbours

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By *agneto.Man
over a year ago

Bham

Can't you just brick it up.

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By *ig1gaz1Man
over a year ago

bradford

"The police have said if we do get CCTV evidence they will be handling the prosecution"

sorry dont want to put a downer on this anymore than what it is already

they will prosecute if they are known trouble causers if they havent got caught before there not known

other than you taking a chance and following them to get where they live the police comment is really worthless unless extra info is available for the police to be able to act

then watch them get a fine of 50.00 or less

however the council house side of it has changed cause trouble weather on your estate or not and your whole family can be evicted for it

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