[Rick Carver]

I was thinking that with the spring start up just around the corner if there are some tips out there for security in the field and for your shop?

We started a while back teaching field security such as never leaving the truck unattended in parking lots, like fast food restaurants etc. The normal things to do and not to do. But, I saw last summer a trailer/rig that had a camera sticking out the top corner pointing outside? Can't tell you if it was real or not. Can't see how it would be?
I was also speaking with a friend from Texas a while back and he told me that in a couple of the neighborhoods he service's, his equipment left on the trucks(string trimmers,blowers etc) were always being stolen while mowing. Finally talked to the customers and one actually PAID for the trimmer and then put together a little neighbor watch program for the company.
Finally the customers were so nice they made a designated parking area that was OK'd by the HOA for the company to park in. It was right next to a retired couples home and they were able to keep an eye on the rig.

Pretty nice eh?

In my old shop years ago we were getting hit sporadically and weren't sure if it was, of course, employees or not. So we put up fake cameras at one point. They got stolen!
So a friend of mine with the DE. state police K-9 unit said she was looking for practice areas for live training for the dogs. :-0
We had a big sign made up in english and spanish explaining that the police would be using our facility at various times NO schedule, just whenever they could fit in the training. We asked them to visit once in a while with their dogs, (ahem) at just the right times either in the morning EARLY and sometimes late afternoon. :-)
The Police did use our place from time to time and the thefts STOPED! hehe!

[Dale Wiley]

Meet White Fang. Fang is 140 pounds of omega Timber wolf and Malamute. She and her son Jake, 120 pounds of Timber wolf and Malamute have lived here for 4 years. Fang considers herself complete and total ruler of ours and our neighbors property. They have free run all day and all night of about 6 acres of nursery, shop and home sites, with an additional 40 acres to keep clear of coyotes and poachers.

We have very little theft problems as, our shop and office facilities are within 150 feet of our home and usually under constant observation. Fang and Jake know every vehicle on our road and who comes to our place by sound and sight. If you are unidentified or new, you will not be let out of vehicle until a human verify's your business.

Being part wild animal, they are very good at sneaking up on humans, coyotes, feral cats, etc and you will never know they are there until you get a real close look. They can close to less than 8 feet before you know it.

Stray scrappers, meth monkeys looking for metal, poachers all stay clear when these 2 show up. We have no real theft problems in our town. Some guys have had somethings stolen, but the idiots seldom get far.

[cutntrim]

Reminds me of my grandparents dog "Chief" when I was a kid. He was the offspring of a purebred German Shephard and a wolf...at least that's what my grandparents said. He was originally supposed to be a K-9 dog in the military, but as the story goes he fell off of a truck while in transport and my grandparents picked him up from a farmer who they knew that found him.

In any case, he was the biggest German Shephard "I've" ever seen. Security at my grandparent's farm was never a problem with him around. He used to chase deer across the corn fields, and once caught a red fox which can't be too easy. He fell through the ice chasing a duck at the pond across the road one winter when I was around 10yrs old, but I ran and got the adults and they broke the ice to get him out. He was devoted to my grandma, and would kill to protect her. One time when we were visiting, my grandpa pretended to grab her and my grandma played along like she was in trouble, saying "Help, Chief, Help!". Chief came flying off the kitchen floor and tore my grandpa's flannel shirt half-off his body before my grandma could stop him. It was actually pretty funny.

The best Chief story was when he killed a wolverine! and brought the kill to the front door as a prize for my grandma. Chief was covered in blood, and the wolverine's head was only attached by a few remaining sinews at the neck. It was probably old or sick, but pretty impressive nonetheless.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I loved that dog and seeing those pictures brought back memories...

[Rob Shauger]

Dam those are big dogs Dale. I know a local guy who has a nursery and he has 5 or 6 Huskies. Solid muscle and they live outside year round and rule thr roost in the fields. On ripped a Rot Whiler to pieces last year. The owner was warned. LOL

[Bill Schwab]

On a similar note, we had a huge pain in the rear end client 3 years ago. They were of the entitled mindset that everyone will bow to them. So, one day, they took a drive up to one of the large specimen nurseries we use around L.A., and, at 5 the grounds crew locked the gate and went home. And, out came the dogs. And, the PIA client and his family, wife and 2 kids under 6 were locked in inside their BMW. So I get this call about 9PM begging for help. They ran out of diapers, they can't get out of the car, and they can't get a hold of anyone at the nursery...No kidding, they were told the nursery closes at 5.

About 3AM they managed to convince the already over burdened California police agencies to get a hold of the nursery owners, who, called a grounds person to let them out...LOLOL!!!!