Anti Vandal Paint/Grease?

[lou100]

Hello,  For the second time in as many weeks somebody has climbed over my garden fence and helped themselves to some flowers/plants from my garden.  My fence is 3ft hight (deeds limit it from being any higher)  As much as I would like to put a electric fence around it so they never do such a thing again, I obviously understand this is not possible!   I am thinking of putting some anti vandal paint/grease around the top of the fence so this may act as a deterent.    It will be on the side which faces into my garden, so if somebody does get it on themselves or clothes they have trespassed onto my property.   Does anybody know where I stand with this.   Can the person complain they have this substance on their clothes/skin?  Is it legal for me to do this.  - Any help advice appreciated.....Thank You.

[Ward-Minter]

Make sure you put up a readily seen sign showing the warning. A small one in plain english similar to BEWARE THE DOG, will cover your public liability. Also if Police, Gas etc "legally" climb over it will deter civil litigation etc.

Further, it may sound silly but make sure you do not need planning permission. You probably won't but some councils are very very picky.

There used to be one called "WET PAINT" which the police used up towards the top of CCTV poles so it must be good!!!

Good luck.

[joko]

get some holly bushes or simialr prickly bushes. they will think twice if they risk getting lacerated.

Often the fence laws are only because of line of site and light-blocking. you could put up a trellis or some kind of wire mesh.

anti vandal paint is not designed to mark clothing (though it might) it is used to stop people scaling walls, drainpipes, roofs etc because its too greasy or slippery and they can't get a grip, it would be useless on a 3ft wall as they can step on and off or even over it in one step.

you could try trip wires around the base of your plants, weave them through the branches and leaves and round again so they get tangled if they are removed. I suggest simple fishing line as its clear and more or less invisible - be sure to remeber where they are yourself though! unfortunately this may destroy the plants but it will put them off trying again if they think they'll only get a wrecked plant out of it, so your replacements should be safe.

put up 'CCTV is installed' signs. and if possible actually install some kind of camera. if you haven't the cash install a dummy one. 

good luck

[Chessman]

We had this problem at our last house, so I spread a thick layer of fruit tree grease along the top of the fence they used to climb over. I cured the problem.

[stevemarl]

Hello,  I had a problem with the local feral kids climbing on my garage roof  (not, I might add, in a mischievous way, but in a `lets jump as hard as we can - maybe we can break the roof` sort of way)  So, I painted the top edges of the wall and a 1ft area around perimeter of roof with a good quality anti-climb paint.    Whilst this did stop them gaining access,  they actually got their own back by covered their hands in this thick black gunge and leaving `prints` of their hands all over the neighbours (white!) mobile home & car...  Something to consider??

I shall probably end up going down the razor wire route, making the area look that little bit more like the ghetto to which they aspire.  `innit.`