I appreciate the sentiment but I think the reality would not be so good. Too much chance of it going wrong and injuring innocent parties. Also “the scum” may just decide to get their own back, they would know who you are and where you and your family live, you would know nothing about them.
You can get shock sensors to go on doors and windows which operate if someone tries to force their way in. There are pir sensors which have zones, something has to be detected by two zones before it triggers, so small dog does not trigger the pir but a person does. Look up texecom, expensive and really suited to a house with sensors also in the workshop.
I have electric gates with external activators and I think a nudge from a vehicle would break the actuators. You can fit electric locks which automatically locks the leaves together which should make them more secure. Try contacting a manufacturer/installer regarding sliding gates, I would expect them to be a lot more expensive as they are a specialist item, as opposed to standard gates with off the shelf bolt on actuators.
I am sure something like this from South Africa could be modified to protect the workshop. Need to sort out how stop the dog or neighbours cat from activating it.
Thats always going to be difficult because isolation favours the criminal, if they can make a bit of noise without disturbing anyone then they have the advantage. I would agree that the first point to secure is that single entrance to the property, forget fancy electric gates and get something fabricated, heavy steel post concreted into the ground and a very heavy duty barrier with a counter balance otherwise you will find it hard to operate. Remember all parts need to be upto the same level of integrity, one weak part can undo all your work. Use concealed hinge pins and multiple locking devices on both ends. Then as someone mentioned use bollards in front as well.
I have gates with steel posts, steel frame and wood facing. They came with actuators and basic control electronics. The posts had brackets welded on for the actuators, hence buying the gates with actuators. Gates were from metal mania and I was pleased with quality and service and they look good. You could think about having a gate made for timber facing but fitting bolted on steel sheet. It would be more robust than wood facing and look more robust as a deterrent but you could change it to wood if and when you build the house.
Hi Jonm, the shock sensors, Ive seen them advertised for windows and I assumed that the considerable shock that perhaps travels through a window being broken would ne needed to set them of,,,they look like bits of foil I think?? Is it possible to get one that would detect somone pulling at the door, I know that I could try to set up a microswitch but its finding a balance between creating somthing thats sensitive without say the wind moving the door and setting false alarms. So far I have to say that the infra red gate looks very promising or the double PiR sensors but what does it need to be connected up too is the next question?
But just ended up with an alarm system - we have plenty of folk / neighbours around during the day and generally this village is incredibly safe - was just a gang on one night...The sensitivity of the shock sensor is adjustable, a case of adjustment to avoid false alarms. I would imagine a loose fitting door would be a problem. The following video towards the end shows tapping to trigger the alarm.
An alarm may have annoyed them but would it have actually prevented the theft. These days so many people hearing an alarm going off just think of it as a nusuiance and take no further action.
