Dear Reader,
Several years ago, before I moved to Cedar City, Utah, there was a criminal in the area who was breaking into cabins and living in them while on the run from police. In the summer, Troy Knapp would move around the mountains of southern Utah, and in the winter he would seek shelter in remote cabins.
Usually, these cabins were fully stocked, and since they were isolated and difficult to access in the winter, Knapp could stay as long as he needed. For over seven years, this man lived in the wilderness of southern Utah, surviving off wild animals and hunkering down in empty cabins.
Local authorities caught a break in the case when one of the cabins Knapp broke into captured surveillance video of him. In addition to the video, authorities were able to pull fingerprints from a bottle of whiskey in another cabin where Knapp had stayed.
After obtaining fingerprints, police discovered Knapp was a fugitive from California who had been on the run for almost 10 years. He was eventually caught after federal agents began tracking him. With the help of a helicopter and a bird’s-eye view, the feds were able to chase him down and finally arrest him.
Keep Your Safe House Safe
For the people of southern Utah, it will be hard to forget the folklore surrounding the man who broke into dozens of cabins in seven different counties over a period of many years. For the rest of us, there are some important things we can learn from Troy Knapp to protect our bug-out locations.
After all, most people purposefully choose a secluded area for their bug-out location so they won’t have to contend with outsiders. Knapp used this fact to his advantage, which is why he was able to stay off law enforcement’s radar for so long.
So today, I want to share with you five ways to help keep your bug-out location secure when you are not using it:
1) Keep it clean. There is nothing more inviting to a criminal than an abandoned building. If your bug-out location is overgrown with weeds or trees, a criminal will assume no one has been there for a long time and figure it’s a safe place to break into. Even if you don’t frequent your bug-out location very often, try to visit it every now and then to clean it up so it looks lived in.
2) Put up security cameras. Troy Knapp was finally apprehended with the help of security camera footage. Some of the video actually came from trail cameras set up by local cabin owners. I also recommend installing an alarm system. Obviously, this may not be possible if you have limited access to power. At the very least, I would set up a few trail cameras and check them as often as possible.
3) Secure doors and windows. This is basic home security, but even in your bug-out location I encourage you to make sure all doors and windows have quality locks. This includes any outbuildings on the property. In addition, I recommend covering all windows with curtains or blinds to prevent criminals from peering into the building to see if it’s empty and available for squatting.
4) Don’t underestimate fencing and signage. Fencing in the area around your bug-out location can be a deterrent to anyone considering trespassing. Also, signs saying things like “Beware of Dog” will make most criminals think twice. Signs stating that video surveillance is being used will also scare away criminals. In fact, I use these on my private property.
5) Utilize boulders and gates. If you have to travel down a long driveway to get to your property, adding physical barriers makes the trek more cumbersome for criminals. For instance, using a tractor to move large rocks onto the road will make your safe house difficult for criminals to access. Let’s say someone wants to rob the place — it will be much more challenging if they can’t drive right up to the building. If you don’t want to deal with moving large boulders, at the very least I suggest putting in a security gate complete with locks and signage.
Even though most of us plan on bugging out only during an emergency, I recommend checking on your location as much as possible. It’s always a good idea to take stock of your supplies and make sure your gear is ready to go.
Often, when you own a piece of property you can’t check on regularly, it becomes a constant source of worry and concern. Hopefully, these safety measures will prevent your bug-out location from being targeted by a roving criminal or rogue mountain man.
Stay safe,
Jason Hanson
