Intruder deterrent apparatus

An intruder deterrent apparatus comprising:

• a housing, the housing defining an interior space in the housing, the housing defining an inlet and an outlet which extend into the interior space of the housing, the outlet being positioned at a bottom end of the housing, the inlet being positioned at a top end of the housing;
• a container mounted in the housing, the container comprising a bottom wall and a perimeter wall, the perimeter wall being coupled to and extending away from the bottom wall, the container defining an interior volume surrounded by the bottom wall and the perimeter wall, the bottom wall defining a plurality of apertures which extends through the bottom wall;
• a plurality of peppercorns positioned in the interior volume of the container;
• a grinding mechanism mounted in the housing, the grinding mechanism being operable to grind the plurality of peppercorns, the grinding mechanism comprising:
• an engagement member, the engagement member being movable against the plurality of peppercorns, the engagement member being movable alternately toward and away from the bottom wall of the container, the engagement member comprising a base panel and a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth being coupled to a lower face of the base panel, the engagement member further comprising a peripheral wall which is coupled to the bottom wall, the peripheral wall surrounding the plurality of teeth, the peripheral wall being surrounded by the perimeter wall of the container, the peripheral wall being complementary in shape to the perimeter wall of the container;
• and
• an actuator, the actuator being operable to move the engagement member against the plurality of peppercorns, the actuator comprising a linear actuator;
• a processor mounted in the housing and operatively coupled to the grinding mechanism;
• a fan mounted in the housing, the fan being operably coupled to the processor, the fan being positioned and configured to urge air into the housing through the inlet and out of the housing through the outlet when activated;
• a transceiver mounted in the housing, the transceiver being operatively coupled to the processor;
• a remote electronic device in wireless communication with the processor via the transceiver, the remote electronic device being operable to transmit command signals to the processor;
• and
• a sensor in wireless communication with the remote electronic device, the sensor being configured to detect an individual located proximate to the outlet of the housing.