So, I was picking up sticks last weekend on one of the lots I keep mowed and trimmed. I also have a processing area there and a pile of splits. Did not even notice at first, but after a few minutes, something looked off. It was my wood pile. Nearly all the beech I had split and thrown on the pile had disappeared. I think some red elm is also missing. No tire tracks or other signs available to help determine what happened. I immediately text my Sister to inquire if she had ran out and was heating from my pile..."nope, still have plenty." Hmmm? The pile is visible from a county road, but is behind a padlocked gate. I then inquire to my Sister as to whether my Nephew may have taken it. "No, he takes from us if he runs out." Hmmm? The gate is secured with a combination pad lock . My Sister and her family know the combo, I know the combo, and the man who pumps the oil well knows the combo. It is enough wood that it was not hauled off by hand, unless there were about 100 trips made. The closest neighbor to the pile does burn wood, but unsure how they would get combo. Only thing I can think is that they went over while the pumper was at the well and looked at the lock. Currently, the neighbor and the oil man are the main suspects. I cannot see any of the splits around the neighbors house, but there is a shed out back that I think they store wood in. There are also some branches/small trees laying in their yard (looking like scrounge pieces) and no visible processed wood reserves. I have deployed a trail cam to the site, in a lock box, secured with a python cable lock. I will be deploying more once I get a chance to properly camouflage them. Here is the wood that was taken. I had chronicled it's gathering in another thread here somewhere. It was a bit of a chore getting it on the ground and drug out & split. I figure I had 4-5 man-hours at least, in it. In this picture, you can see some beech already on the pile...it's gone save for a few splits and all the stuff being worked on in the picture is gone also. I am beyond angry about this. The wood doesn't really matter, I have more. It's the fact that they "stole" my sweat and labor. The party mustn't be very bright as they left the 1-2 year seasoned stuff on the other side of the pile and instead took the beech which is green and only been split for ~2 months. The perpetrator also has to have a decent sized stove because these splits were all measured cuts at 21". I can identify the wood if I can find it. 21" lengths with yellow paint dots at the cuts. I also have pictures documenting my getting it out of the woods and processed. To me (of course I guess, being the victim) this seems like an extremely "low life, dirt bag, POS" thing to do. It's been eating me up all week. Needed to vent to fellow hoarders whom know what effort it takes to procure and make firewood. I sure do hate a thief and I sure do hope I can maintain control if I find the guilty party. A really big part of me wants to turn their face into cherry pie filling and then put their head in my 30 ton splitter. This would be of course an overreaction...but that's how upset I am about this. Someone too lazy/cheap to properly prepare for winter is staying warm off my sweat and backaches. GRRRR!
Losing out on hard work just sucks. Aside from the gate, any "No Trespassing" signs posted, along the road as well as on any paths/trails to the area? Signs, along with any pictures from the trailcams, might very well carry the day if law enforcement needs to be engaged.
The lot is conspicuously posted. Cannot enter through gate without seeing the sign. The only other way onto that lot is from trails through the woods that do not lead to anywhere but my property. If I find them and restitution is not offered, I will try to prosecute. I need more cold weather so I can get them on video. After I thought on it a while...pretty sure some wood was missing from this pile last year also, just not this big of an amount. Never gave it much thought.
Dang, that sucks... I keep all of my processed wood within sight of my house. Someone would have to be pretty bold to try walking off with any. Maybe karma will catch up with them. If they’re burning your green wood maybe they’ll catch their chimney on fire, and then you can get some of your BTU’s back. Hashtag #bringmarshmallows
I've already had to suppress some ideas I had about doctoring up some splits for them. I just hope they are still needing more and give me some evidence to work with. Currently, I am an "absentee owner". I am doing my best right now to change that. Who knew building a house would be so complicated and expensive??
Only good thief is a dead thief! I've been meaning to put cameras up at my house for a few years. Given that my wood will be out by the road for best wind and sun exposure this year, I will be expediting their deployment. Thankfully, I live on a private road, and only residents and guests are here.
Maybe leave a nice looking pile of wood to entice the pos will help catch them on camera. Would the restitution be the market price of firewood plus court costs? If you don’t sell firewood would restitution be your time per hour ($$$$$), cost of fuel and equipment costs, cost to heat your home alternatively without firewood? Whatever the scenario ends up being I hope you burn the SOB for what they stole and for what they stole from others without getting caught. Fight the good fight and unleash fury on the peckerwood that stole from you. Good luck.
Far too often it is someone you know or someone they know, who knows when you come and go. Hope you catch them on the cam and authorities do their job. They might not be back until same time next year ?
Desperate? Lazy? Criminal? All of that is what those people are. Full security sys. is on our agenda here. Really to bad after so many years of trusting people. We had rarely locked doors. I never even took the keys from our vehicles for years. Things are changing and its not for the better. Hope you get a pic or two. It would be sweet to identify them. Best of luck. Update this if you have success.
The guy who took your wood is very poor. He has no money for oil and his young children are freezing.The reason he didn't ask first is because he's embarrassed by his current situation. He took the green wood and left the better stuff because that's closer to what he'll replace it with in the Spring. . I don't believe it either but that's what my wife would tell me. If you think it's possible it may soften the blow.
I am a staunch beliver in public humiliation, should a dollar amount be difficult to ascertain. Sent from my SM-T280 using Tapatalk
Oh there's still a bunch of wood there...maybe 2 cord or so. Restitution for me at this point is either $200 cash in hand (I don't sell wood really, but that is the amount I'd have asked for what's gone if someone insisted), or helping me to replace what's gone. If I am to pursue in court, the amount of monetary would be raised to $500 and costs. I am usually a very happy go lucky individual...but steal from me? I ain't got all that much in the first place and have worked for all of it. I understand someone is merely trying to be warm in the cold weather. I know what compassion is. Why not ask me for some help? Why assume that you *must take it to get it? I am quite generous to those who help me with work around the property. I'm really leaning towards the neighbor, but I have no proof...yet. The area will for sure be heavily monitored next year. I want to catch them badly. I agree wholeheartedly. I am proud to live in a community where you need not nail everything to the floor to keep it from walking off (for the most part). I agree that things are changing. It all comes down to Respect for others. No one has any Respect anymore.
I would change the combination lock to your gate. It is possible like you said that someone else has obtained the combination. If someone stole my blood and sweat I would be pretty upset too.
My property is in front of his along the road. A sign could easily be erected. See above post noting compassion. Stealing my stuff is not a way to induce compassion from me towards *your problems.
I've never posted a thing on youtube. However Bet I could figure it out given the correct incriminating video!!!!!!
That stinks man. Id walk right over to the neighbors and start up a conversation about the weather and wood burning but not say anything about the stolen wood. You will know pretty quick by how they act. Or wait till they are out in the shed and roll in and say hey guys, hows it goin.
That was first thought....but it will lessen my chances of getting photo/video evidence. I am actually going to change out to a keyed lock in the future. The combos are nice to allow limited access, but as you say someone I don't want to know it, likely does. I am wanting to catch them in the act. That gives me the leverage instead one man's word vs another. Plus, once caught on camera, I have to think it would be a very good deterrent against future trespass knowing that I am paying attention, and I am watching.
A typical response from someone not on the end of the axe or other wise expending labor. When the shoe get on the other foot though- oh my goodness. Just had a some what similar episode, wood pile shrinking at friends cottage - cams up , bait pile set, trap sprung. Pictures worth a thousand words. Authorities notified. addendum ; so we were up working on backhoe - car (IL plate ) with trailer comes tooling up - rather obvious that not expecting anyone to be around ( specifically armed) . says he heard we were selling wood- no such thing- informed of same- plate # written down, Tire tracks check- same as those at pile- Authorities notified again. Backhoe now working again - Might need to dig a large hole.
Good people do not steal from others no matter what their circumstances. There are plenty of avenues in this country to receive some kind of assistance especially when kids are involved. Or how about someone offering to help split and cut wood so that they may share in the reward of having some for heat. There are plenty of alternatives to stealing. This is just another perspective is all.
