I have one of the motion activated sprinklers, it's awesome and even works at night. It was invented by a guy to keep his neighbor's dogs from 'visiting' his front yard. I think that would be the best deterrent for your fig-nappers. If you have good water pressure, it gives a very strong spray for about 3 seconds. Mine is known as a 'Scarecrow' and they're on Amazon.
I use mine to try to deter the birds and squirrels from eating all my lychees. I got to eat one, exactly, this year.
Forgot to put out the sprinkler gadget before I left on a trip . . .
Can't use it in the back yard because every time I set it up to scare away the &*#$^$@$@&ed raccoons, the cat comes in wet and angry.