Staked

I've staked out places for us in the front row of the auditorium.

He staked his future on this single chance.

Tom staked his tomatoes with Mary's old stockings.

FBI agents staked out Tom's house for 2 weeks.

The police staked out the suspect's house.

The referendum is non-binding, but the result will have to be validated by a general election later this year, and the island nation's two major political parties have staked out starkly contrasting positions.