Yes, yes. Mercy with the promise of extortion and recompense is all fine and good. I'm not interested in personal creeds. You tell yourself whatever it is you need to sleep at night.

But if you're truly adamant about mitigating damage, there is another route.

You mentioned fish before, and it sparked an idea. 'Catch and release.' If someone were to trespass on your premises, perhaps a tracking node can be attached to them through such measures. Something you can investigate at your leisure after they've been chased off.