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Deterring louts from opening front garden gate overnight

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  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    @SalixGold, good point about the signs not being visible at night. I think lights (and a claxon - in my dreams! ) -will work better overnight. A discreet sign in the window for daytime might be in order though.  :)
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Signs of any kind won't work.
    I don't think there's much that would work other than locking it, and then you'll have to be available every day to unlock it. The problem with post could be solved by having one of those boxes attached nearby. 
    It's an electric  current you need through the gate..... :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    @kt53 no, not a shortcut. The routes the night time revellers use include my street. They spill out of clubs in the early hours, marauding past ( the very drunk types) and often have food and drink with them. They sometimes jettison it  en route. Sometimes into my hedging, sometimes under, through and over my gate and sometimes they open the gate and come into my front garden. This could be for a dare, maybe to look at their phone and chat to their mates off the public highway, and sometimes to urinate, dump rubbish or very occasionally, to vomit or sit down. Very occasionally there is drunken fighting. It is not just my garden that this can happen, but because I grow more plants than average, there is more of a chance my garden will be damaged. It does not happen every night or week but I regularly find unexplained detritus that has appeared during the night.

    In the daytime, school children, students, dog-walkers, tourists and commuters walk past and the inconsiderate ones of this group tend to mainly just post litter through my hedging!  :)
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    Hang a sign saying 'Wet Paint On Gate', and randomly apply a few dabs of paint every Thursday night. Anti-climb paint is the best, as it doesn't dry and is very difficult to wash off.  :)
    Sunny Dundee
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’d try motion sensor lights … even urinating drunks tend not to want to be illuminated … we’ll most of ‘em. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    Slightly off topic but made me smile when I thought of it.
    In the 'good old days' army helicopters hovered about a lot keeping an eye. If they saw blokes they would sometimes turn the spotlight on just to let them know not to get up to mischief. Well there was dancing. Of course there was! 🤣🤣🤣
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    We have double gates,  both have a drop bolt into the ground,  they would have to crouch down to open either one,  may deter people. 
    Don’t put a post box on your outside wall,  that’s inviting trouble,  it will be full of all sorts,  mostly dog poo bags. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • We used to have a smart padlock which had the facility to set times when it would be locked. We didn't use that feature so I'm not sure how reliable it is.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Have you thought of a carabiner clip rather than a padlock?

    I bought a very nice fisherman’s smock this week from a German retailer, a ships’ chandler. They enclosed their catalogue. So many things-of-purpose I had no idea that existed including such a range of shackles and clips. 

    A carabiner clip attached to a bolt would completely baffle night time ne’er do wells but could be released by posties, delivery drivers etc who have been shown its working. Unlike a padlock you’d not need to be in charge of it late at night and first thing in the morning,

    On the Dorset coast you must be close to ships’ chandlers so you could discuss your needs in person.
    Rutland, England
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