Legal Question in Criminal Law in Minnesota

This is an odd one, I'm not even sure where it falls as far as a catagory goes, but hopefully you can help. I live on a farm with a large irrigation system, on this irrigator is several thousand feet of heavy gauge copper wire. Three times in the last year we have been ripped off, at over $1500 a pop to replce we want to deter and or put an end to this. The irrigator is on private(our) property, signs are posted No Tresspassing, Violators will be Prosecuted. One sign is on the irrigator where the wire has been cut. My question is this, if I electrify the copper that is being cut and stolen and post signs High Voltage Danger am I going to be held leagally responsible the next time the theives cut into it and someone is injured or killed?


Asked on 3/03/10, 8:06 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Most likely you will be held liable if someone is injured or killed in the scenario you have described in your question. An individual is only allowed to use reasonable force to protect property and almost never deadly force. Although your scenario is not that of a spring gun (e.g. a gun that fire's upon the opening of a door) which is illegal, it is not far off. Perhaps you should try just posting the signs to see if this resolves the problem.

Read more
Answered on 3/09/10, 9:33 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Criminal Law questions and answers in Minnesota