Huge rash of tree service equipment thefts around here lately

My friend who has a tree service in the Tacoma, WA area, just had his big suburban loaded with chain saws and climbing equipment stolen. He was parked in front of a large Hardware store/Stihl dealership. His truck had his logos and name and advertising painted all over it. Just jimmied a door lock, jumped in, hot wired and gone. A few days ago, at another chainsaw shop, a tree service truck was stolen. Several outfits have had windows smashed and equipment stolen while the owner or workers had stepped into the back yard to inspect a job or to start work. Chainsaws are near the top of the list in break in thefts and random thievery. Speculation is that, with chainsaws and repair parts coming in short supply, (at least in this area), the word has gone out to the thieving portion of our society that chainsaws are the hot ticket! Couple that with the general covid policy around here of not sending non-violent criminals to jail and you have the elements of a perfect storm of thefts. I won't leave my saw in the side yard woodlot for even just a minute for fear that someone will scale the fence, grab the saw and take off running. Just a word to the wise to the FHC community. Keep your eyes open and don't leave an opportunity for a thief to brazenly snatch your saw!

 

The shortage of saws/parts makes sense. If the local courts won't put thieves in jail, it's up to the citizenry to protect themselves/neighbors. Put a few of em in the ground and the issue will likely be largely mitigated. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Thanks.

No use for thieves. I hope they get caught.

 

Good advice. I did buy a chain and combination lock to secure saw(s) in the back but havent used it as of late. Smaller saws usually in the cab on the floor.

 

Can't like that and hope they find them. Too bad they won't do anything even if they do. On reason I have an extended cab pickup but they aren't had to break into either.

 

The thieves will steal them from the thieves.

 

I wouldn't murder someone over a chainsaw but a good beat down would be perfect.Better yet tar and feather em.

 

Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses!

 

Don't need to kill them. Shoot out a knee cap or maybe both if they keep moving.

 

I agree entirely. But it wouldn't bother me to see a few thieves limping around with ruptured huevos. Maybe think twice about thieving if they knew there was an vigilant and active group of concerned neighbors patrolling around!

 

No tolerance for thieves.
Thanks for reminding us to watch our stuff. I'm guilty of being to trusting and letting my gard down.

 

No likes for this thread. Hope Johnny law catches up to them.

 

Oh he does many times, judges and prosecutors letting them back out.

 

Does a thief deserve to be locked away forever? There are much much worse crimes IMO.

 

Sad thing is, they let some of those criminals out way to soon also..

 

Catch and release makes money. We had a rash of drug problems a while back.
We got some real good officers who decided enough was enough and they cleaned up this town.
They started rounding up the drug dealers and ended up killing several of them.
The rest left town and it's pretty quiet for several years now.

People do it because they don't fear the consequences. They will steal from others, but if someone steals from them it's the end of the world. No morals and no concience.
I don't like violence or killing, but if the courts won't do anything to stop it, then it's up to the people to handle it in whatever way works. Having to watch your back gets old real quick, and criminals have a long memory. I just want peace and quiet and to be left alone. There is only so much you can do with a repeat offender, and paying to keep em in jail so they can do it again later isn't right. I'm not saying a dirt nap is the only or even the preferred way, but there is a time and place.

We had coming down our driveway and using it as a spot to have sex, drugs, whatever. I started waiting in the driveway with a rifle and they got the message REAL quick. "Don't go down that driveway, he waits with a gun" seems to be a pretty good message to spread through the ranks. It has been a while since we found any condoms, needles, or other garbage in the driveway.

I have tinted windows and try to keep the saws and other gear out of view anyway. Don't look rich and you won't draw attention, most of the time.

 

Folks don't realize that they let these folks out because they say it cost too much to house them.When do the politicians care about spending tax payers money ?
Yes the cost to house prisoners is higher.This really hurts the politicians pocket who schim the tax dollars.The less tax dollars the less they can schim.So don't pay out as much
tax dollars leaving more for them to play with.

 

I agree there is much worse crime, but and that is a BIG BUT, do you think they are stealing your tools to work all day at a job? Most likely they are stealing to sell the item to buy drugs. Then the problems start occurring, impaired driving/causing a death(s), impaired thoughts causing rape, robbery, murder. The theft is only one link in the chain.

 

In some parts of the country there is still the presence of the so called woke society. Welcome to the woke society for that what they do and get away with.

Very Sad for the guy who just had his way of making a living taken from him. No excuse for it as far as I am concerned.