Lock all access and egress points, making it harder to enter or leave your yard. Install motion sensor lights right by yard access points (hopefully, not shining on the plants). Leave the dogs out, but I'd worry about the rippers using poison
Or, you can guard the crop in the wee hours yourself, for the next 2-3 weeks or so. If yer in Mendicino County, I'd sleep armed.....
If you're not able to reduce or minimize the possibility of ripping, then I'd say harvest now. Once the trichs are all over the buds
Yer most likely talkin' about only increasing the THC content by a percent or two, by waiting to harvest at the "peak". The buds will still do the job as they are now
At least judging by my plants and I believe you are close to my latitude.
I know I'd fuckin' sprain my ACL, kicking myself in the ass if I knew about rippers in the area, didn't do anything about it and got wound up getting ripped
Good luck
AND, in following your posts from this season, it's been a really tough grow for you
So hopefully, you'll do whatever needs to be done, to make sure you come out with something for all your efforts
R2T