Appropriate steps to detur firewood thieves

[needwood]

Lets see... paint the ends of the wood, drill holes in it and put something in that smokes really bad... something about claymore mines cutting them off at the waist.... I think he was serious about painting the wood

He did ask if I wanted him to talk to them, I said no, just want to get a report on file. They did see me talking to him for a good 1/2 hour.
I told him I was not that concerned about the firewood, but about the way they are escalating the situation.

Also said I was doing the right things with the fence, waiting for the survey before dismanteling the pond, and using the alley again etc.

Also mentioned to call 911 anytime they have a loud party, music, loose dog, barking dog, underage drinkers, smoking pot, etc, etc....

Mentioned something about users and welfare trash as he was walking to the cruiser..

Im like you" They are willing too still what means so little to them and so much too guys like us,where dose it end? I think you was right, not to have the cop talk too them. Maybe now they KNOW THAT YOU KNOW,they will stop. Good luck,be safe,take care,and keep us all informed"""

 

[logbutcher]

No joke, We do feel your pain. Your tale is much more than entertaining: a perfect rationale for species selection a la Darwin.:censored:

The decline in morals, manners, and plain common sense is sad. The cocooning of people into their own tiny, insular worlds is an unfortunate fact of life. (No, not a Psychiatrist....yet). I'm getting academic opinionated. Pardonmoi. It may be Glock time . When I'm in say a supermarket with some fool blabbering inanities loudly into the cellphone about what size of cookies for the dog to buy, I loudly walk by talking to myself about prostates. They think I'm bonkers...could be. And this is only the tip of a very big iceburg.

This was one of the reasons that when we searched for a retirement home, the Cardinal Pee Rule was followed: the male of the species must be able to pee in four primary compass points without hitting or disutrbing any neighbors. Success. The woodland gives us firewood and some income, and neighbors are far enough away so that only the chainsaw is heard and not seen. Besides, most people here cut and hunt. Real rural life is good.

JMNSHO

 

[cedarman]

Got home from a trip to my brothers about 5:30pm to find the neighbors with a fire going in the firepit. Use the scope on the pellet gun to get a close look at the wood in the fire and it's huge splits of elm just like what is in part of the stack. (not at all like the little bitty splits you get at the gas station) Walk over to the stack (just redone yesterday) to find several loose sections where I'm 99% sure they've taken wood. Call the police, file a report. Policeman is very sympathetic after hearing the story.
All lights go back on, this time with aluminum duct tape to shield the direct line of sight to them. (city recommended). The saga continues.

okay now im pissed MWTF!!!!!!!!!!! you did the right thing by calling the cops and not losing your cool. After all this, I cant believe they had the nerve to take more wood from you. be calm. get that survey done and get that fence up. if they question the survey, tell them to get their own survey conducted. dont show them anything.

make sure you invest in a solid fence. you cant see them, they cant see you

 

[GPETER]

Check your local laws about building a fence as well. Here in the great white north you can build the fence right on the property boundary AND the neighbor has to pay half of the cost. If the neighbor balks then you take them to small claims court where the courts can garnish wages and all that fun stuff.

The surveyor may be a wealth of knowledge in this respect...

 

[3fordasho]

Sent off this email to the city planner who sent out the letter from the city:

Hi Jon,

I received your letter friday and thankyou for taking the time to provide that information and call me. I am sure you have better things to spend your time with.

As you suggested working it out between neighbors is the solution I would prefer as well, but having a reasonable conversation with these people does notseem to be possible.

As you suggested, a survey of my property has been scheduled (actually was previously scheduled for the purpose of a privacy fence install).

In regards to the lighting issue, ever since the residents at 1xxx xth ave complained, I said I would work with them and have done so in the following ways:
In the fixture that causes the issue, the orginal 42w flourescent bulb was reduced to 4W (25w incandescent equiv). The light has been off at times when they are
out back in their firepit area. Shielding has been installed on this fixture and another that may also be a concern. Finally the light was turned off completely even before I talked to you or received your letter. Also for your information the fixture in question does not shine on their house or deck area, only a small portion of their firepit area. It is also 108ft away from this area.

However things changed yesterday-

So why was the light installed in the first place? My property has been disappearing in this area. The residents at 1xxx xth ave have admitted taking this property. I have told them to stop. It has continued and has happened as recently as yesterday. A police report has been filed.

Because they are escalating the situation, I have turned the light back on (still has shielding installed) and upped the bulb wattage to 23W and it now will remain on at dark.

I am a reasonable person and am trying to implement your suggestions, but when personal property is walking off I feel I have to do something to protect it.

 

[3fordasho]

pics from 5am this morning

Here is a piece of green ash that came from my stacks, sitting on their deck
<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/?action=view&current=DSC02973.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/DSC02973.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

A piece of my maple in the background:
<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/?action=view&current=DSC02974.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/DSC02974.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Check out the firepit area... yes that is wood chips all around.. I'm waiting for the whole thing to go up one of these nights... the wood deck is 8' away at the most:
<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/?action=view&current=DSC02975.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/DSC02975.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
The box elder round is one I've given them for the chimney effect.

 

[olyman]

huh

thats him--a real no brain--

 

[TreePointer]

You probably are already doing this, but remember to document everything. Keep a notebook of all incidents with dates and times.

 

[Blowncrewcab]

So while they where sleeping off their hangovers you snuck in and snapped Pics? Sweeeet I may have Sh*t on their deck if I got that close

 

[cedarman]

So while they where sleeping off their hangovers you snuck in and snapped Pics? Sweeeet I may have Sh*t on their deck if I got that close

thats his deck too if I re-call correctly. so help me god I wouldve had my own bonfire and set the son of a ##### on fire. I mean that

 

[3fordasho]

So while they where sleeping off their hangovers you snuck in and snapped Pics? Sweeeet I may have Sh*t on their deck if I got that close

Yep, didn't have to get on their property to take the pics however. They built that thing right up to or on the rear property line. (or at least what I'm pretty sure is the rear property line) Surveyors started their work this morning on my lot

 

[3fordasho]

They built that thing right up to or on the rear property line. (or at least what I'm pretty sure is the rear property line)

And here is the reason they are trying to block the alley from me/others.
They built their pot smoking/drinking/party area in a spot right next to city property. I can drive by there anytime I want. Not that I use it very often, maybe 7-8 times over the summer depending how much wood I've scrounged, and it's not plowed in the winter.
Never at night or odd hours, and I try my best to avoid times when they are entertaining back there. Maybe once or twice I've had to drive by when they were back there.... Is it my fault they picked a bad location? I've been using that alley since 1986, they've only been around ~5 years.

 

[logbutcher]

Suggestion # ???:
Run to your nearest pro hunting shop. Buy a large (8 oz) bottle of eau d' shunk. (Also available may be lion, cougar, or fox urine. Not quite as powerful as skunk concentgrate. )
Drip (this stuff is potent) far enough away from your place, but close enough to their sporing grounds. Watch the wind. Sit back and enjoy.

If you have a friend with Ranger or SF experience, ask to see their guerrilla tactics manual. More simple tips and hints for light but effective harassment.

 

[3fordasho]

Suggestion # ???:
Run to your nearest pro hunting shop. Buy a large (8 oz) bottle of eau d' shunk. (Also available may be lion, cougar, or fox urine. Not quite as powerful as skunk concentgrate. )
Drip (this stuff is potent) far enough away from your place, but close enough to their sporing grounds. Watch the wind. Sit back and enjoy.

If you have a friend with Ranger or SF experience, ask to see their guerrilla tactics manual. More simple tips and hints for light but effective harassment.

I like the way you think
I was actually searching for just that, and the prevailing winds are in my favor.
Their dog gets sprayed all the time when left out, so it's not like skunks are a rarity around here.

 

[stihl sawing]

The only way you're going to resolve it is put a fence up. I know it will be a cost on your end but it will end it unless their stupid enough to climb the fence. Then they would be fair game for a big dog or rock salt. A relative of mine had a problem similiar to yours. He put a fence up and got a german shephard. It all ended, They were smart enough to figure out if they climbed over the fence they was not going to get back in the same shape before they climbed it.

 

[3fordasho]

The only way you're going to resolve it is put a fence up. I know it will be a cost on your end but it will end it unless their stupid enough to climb the fence. Then they would be fair game for a big dog or rock salt. A relative of mine had a problem similiar to yours. He put a fence up and got a german shephard. It all ended, They were smart enough to figure out if they climbed over the fence they was not going to get back in the same shape before they climbed it.

Fence materials are purchased and in the rear shed. Survey started this morning, permit will be applied for after survey is complete. Problem is this all takes time and I still have to build it. (The limestone quarry is just beyond my back yard, can you guess what I hit when I dig down about 12"?)

In the mean time they continue to steal wood and basically mock us.
So hard not to come unglued....

They don't have a pot to piss in, upside down mortgage and nothing to loose, I've got respectable life savings/everything paid for and they would love for a reason to sue..

 

[CrappieKeith]

I'll bite...what did you hit 12" down?

 

[Taxmantoo]

The wife is the nutcase pulling his strings... she's a real piece of work- she has admitted that the firewood bundles at cub foods are always 2 for the price of one, for her anyway. Pulls the same stunt at the walmart self check out. Just one more reason to ignore these pukes.

Cool. Follow her to Wal-Mart, video tape her (got a nice camera phone?), and have her arrested for shoplifting/retail fraud. Or at least take her picture to Walmart's manager so he can give it to the boys in security.

 

[3fordasho]

I'll bite...what did you hit 12" down?

Lets just say there are alot of houses with out basements. Plenty of dynamite was needed for the ones that do. 80+ year old sweet heart (RIP) across the street would tell us stories of her husband setting his own charges.
Lived in that house all their lives. Her kids have the house up for sale, I'm praying for decent people to move in.

I had a chance to buy the place the crappy neighbors are in now for $85K. Might have been worth it. They bought for 115k and have refinanced it 3 times over the last 5 years. Everytime they took cash out to buy stupid stuff. Property values have declined like everywhere else, and they've only done cosmetic upgrades (and I don't mean new windows and siding). I bet the loan is $140k+ and after they've been in it 5 years I wouldn't give $60k for it now.

 

[3fordasho]

Cool. Follow her to Wal-Mart, video tape her (got a nice camera phone?), and have her arrested for shoplifting/retail fraud. Or at least take her picture to Walmart's manager so he can give it to the boys in security.

She got caught there walking out with a DVD player. Played stupid and said she forgot to scan it. :monkey:
I think they might have her number. Of course with the employee turnover at Wal-Mart, maybe not.