It only takes a few minutes along with some basic items to build an effective alternative to expensive and high tech perimeter alarm systems. If you have a mouse trap, some fishing line, a few nails and some circular toy gun ring caps, you can put together an intrusion detection system that can be used almost anywhere. Follow the steps below and play with a couple of variations until you create a reliable alarm that is perfect for your needs.
Preparing the Trap
The first step is to attach the mousetrap to a wooden or plastic stake. It is important to make sure that you choose a stake that is long enough to be secured into the ground while also supporting the mousetrap. The mousetrap should be at least three inches above the ground once attached in order to snare potential intruders. The easiest thing to do is to screw in the trap to the stake, with the top of the trap facing up. You can also use duct or electrical tape as well as nails, but two screws will help to keep the trap secure without muffling any potential sound once it gets triggered.
The next step is to drill a small hole behind the trigger latch that rests beneath where the bait is placed on the trap. The fishing line will be fed through this hole and wrapped around the trigger later. Finally, take two nails or small screws and place them directly beneath where the trap arm falls once sprung. Put one under the left and the other on the right side and test to ensure that the trap will stop squarely on the heads. Make sure each one is slightly raised above the base of the trap so that caps can rest on them once the trap is set.
Setting the Trap
Place the trap into the ground and tie one end of the fishing line to the bracket through the hole you made in the previous step. Pull the line across the width of the perimeter that you are trying to protect and tie it off on a shrub, stake or stick. Make sure that the line is resting a few inches above the ground, and it is important that it is pulled tight. Slack lines can slip off of the foot or leg of the trespasser, or they can also prevent the trap from snapping.
Once the line has been set and anchored, cut out two caps from the ring and place them on top of the screws or nails on the trap. Lock the trap arm in place and wait. When someone breaches your perimeter by catching the trip wire, the force of the arm hitting the caps will make a loud sound, giving you time to react.
The only limitation to this trap is that it must be placed far enough away for you to take action in a timely manner, but it must also be close enough to be heard. This is why it works better in conjunction with other security measures instead of a stand-alone option. However, this simple trick can help to give you more options as well as greater peace of mind during stressful situations.
