Burglaries in the area, concern about piggies...

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TheAurora

TheAurora

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I overheard a group of my neighbours talking about more attempted break ins on my street.

Obviously this is a concern, but I'm more worried about the piggies as they'd only have to get in the back garden to have access to them.

It's made me realise how vulnerable they are outside in their hutch all day on their own. But I don't want to keep them in doors all week.

Does anyone else worry about this stuff?

:(
 
I don't worry as mine are indoor piggies.

Could you pop a padlock on the hutch? That'd stop anyone being able to get in easily.

You can also get signs stating that "these animals are microchipped" which may deter would be piggy thieves?
 
Pad locks on hutches... * can buy the little clasp things from b&q... That's where I got mine... Also dummy CCTV cameras are good... And make sure your back gate has a bolt on the top and bottom of the fence... :)
x
 
Yes, my back gate is padlocked and about 7ft high with a sign on it 'beware, guard dogs" - even tho I don't actually have dogs.

My hutch has so many doors... but padlocks are an idea.

If anything happened to them my world would end :(
 
may be a daft idea but could you also get something similar to a bike lock and lock it to something solid? or a chain or something?

Stay safe pigglies x
 
I had this issue when someone broke into my shed over winter, luckily my piggies were indoors.

Guinea's are back out in the shed now, we have installed a sensor light in the back garden above the shed, the shed is padlocked and so is the back gate, we also let our cockers sleep in the living rooom so they can hear and alert us to any intruders.

If people in your neighbour hood are ringing the police everytime something happens your area will become a "hot spot" meaning it has a lot more policing.

Our area has been a hot spot for a while even though things have been quiet for a good few months now.
 
Oh no - we have had members on here highlighting this previously :...
Can't elaborate any more than what others have suggested, deterrents are the only way really - do you have a security light as I think that scares unwanted guests at night when they are more vulnerable ?
Keep them safe...mine are all indoors thankfully and won't even leave a window open if there's no one home :(
 
Guinea pig slave said:
Oh no - we have had members on here highlighting this previously :...
Can't elaborate any more than what others have suggested, deterrents are the only way really - do you have a security light as I think that scares unwanted guests at night when they are more vulnerable ?
Keep them safe...mine are all indoors thankfully and won't even leave a window open if there's no one home :(
Click to expand...

Yes there is a security light which reacts to movement at night...

But to be honest, they sleep in the house as I can't stand the thought of them in the dark on their own outside rolleyes
 
Last year there were a spate of thefts from gardens - the hutches were stolen with the pigs in them, securing the hutch so it can't be moved is as important as preventing it from being opened.

Suzy x
 
I know it's crazy but I keep having nightmares about someone hurting them.

When I put them out in the morning and go to work I find myself kissing them over and over and telling them I love them in case it's the last time I ever see them...
 
Yes, very good thread. We live in a very nice neighbourhood where there is very very low crime rates, and we are tucked away around a bushy corner too. We have 7ft fences and a gate around our back garden, and 5 or so years ago when we had our old guineas in a hutch outside we didn't even think about security because of the area.

Sadly we had some gypsies move to the field down our road, they were only there 2 weeks or so but before we realised they were there they actually tried to steal my piggies :( It was so lucky - my dad was up late watching the football transfer window (usually in bed before 11) and he heard a big bang, which was the gate. He looked out the window and the piggy hutch was gone, so he ran outside and they were carrying it down the street, he shouted at them and they dropped it and he ran to see if they were ok, Sugar was fine but Spice was cold with shock from being dropped. We brought them inside and they were both fine, but after that locks went on the hutch and the hutch was bolted to the wall and padlocked.

So important to not just padlock the hutch, but also secure it down as they will take it all. The same week our neighbours house got burgled and our other neighbours garage got broken into and his bike stolen. Funny how it all stopped when the council moved them on :x
 
I'd try and attach some hooks/loops to each side of the hutch and use two locks or bike chains (something strong) to secure it safely to something solid that can't be moved. Then they cannot take the hutch because it is attached to something else. Also look the doors with padlocks and make sure your mesh is thick enough that nothing can be cut.

Make sure you keep your light sensor on at night - that may be able to deter any burglars.
 
Just checked back to this and it is really is scary - cannot believe that people would want to steal someones beloved piggies :( Last year, some members had theirs taken and were never found, think Audioheart ? had her shed set on fire too with piggies inside :)>>>
Only 100% way is to have them indoors but understand that is not always possible :...
God - what vile beings we share our oxygen with pow-pow
 
Guinea pig slave said:
Just checked back to this and it is really is scary - cannot believe that people would want to steal someones beloved piggies :( Last year, some members had theirs taken and were never found, think Audioheart ? had her shed set on fire too with piggies inside :)>>>
Only 100% way is to have them indoors but understand that is not always possible :...
God - what vile beings we share our oxygen with pow-pow
Click to expand...

I totally agree! B*&tards! :)>>>

I will look into getting padlocks - the only ****, with my garden being very secluded someone would easily have time to simply unscrew the padlock bracket.
 
BeautifulBoyz said:
I totally agree! B*&tards! :)>>>

I will look into getting padlocks - the only ****, with my garden being very secluded someone would easily have time to simply unscrew the padlock bracket.
Click to expand...

You can get these things called rounded bolts or screws... I can't quite remember...
My garden has been trespassed in quite a bit recently so I pad locked my piggy shed... Only to lock my keys in there a few weeks later I just screwed the bolt off... Then I though why do I even put a bolt on if it's that easy to break in to the shed... So I had these bold put through where the screws would be that are just flat on the front and secured by a bolt on the inside of the shed... Done the same for the hinges of the doors aswell... :)
x
 
In my area finding gypsies in the yards is quite common. My walls are 8ft but no that doesnt stop them getting in or out. They also ride around on stupid wooden horse carts that look like they are going to fall apart getting in the way of every driver around.

This is one minority that actually does something to get abuse for ... though the ones on tv are painted as angels ... the groups around here are certainly not and deserve everything they get ... cant speak for all gypsies but these are obnoxious.
 
I know how you feel. Where I live if somethings not bolted down and people think they can make a bit of money they'll take it! I usually put my piggys outdoor in the summer, but their cage has been modified by me to make the door where the mesh is stronger (using thicker wood) I also have 4 padlocks on the cage (2 for each door at top and bottom) I then also have it padlocked to the wall. But before xmas (luckly piggys were inside for winter) I woke to find the cage uncovered, the wood used to hold the cover down ontop of the cage so definetly wasnt the wind and plus a piece of wood on my gate looked like it had been 'scrapped' like they put their foot at the top of it and then their foot slipped down damaging it. So now I dont want to put them out and to my shock the OH yesterday said to me 'you dont use that cage so are you going to get rid of it' As you can guess complete shock! So looks like they may becoming permant indoor piggys :) Anyway if you cant bring them in then I would say bolt it up! Also could you try fittin one of those door alarms to the inside? You can usually get them from pound shop and if you put it on the inside of the cage on the mesh door and make it so your finger can go through the mesh and switch it on, that way if someone open the door and breaks the connection the alarm will sound (which are usually quite loud)and usually thats enough to scare burglars off!
 
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