WinonaRail's Wood Yard

This thread is still alive in 2025. My roadside stand is back in business. I made use of some Amazon gift cards and bought a cellular trail cam (first). I installed it facing the firewood stand and pointing toward the road so I can see anything/anyone entering my driveway that goes by the stand. I also mounted a regular trail cam that I already had on the back side of a utility pole next to my mailbox that points away from the road. Finally, I purchased a wifi solar trail camera oriented like the first camera mentioned but on the opposite side of the driveway (same side as the stand). Nobody gets in or out without my knowledge now.

My cellular camera is set up for pictures. Every time it takes a photo I get a notification on my phone. The other cameras are for supporting evidence. If I see any suspicious activity, I'll pull the SD card from the camera on the utility pole and download the pictures. Finally, the wifi camera takes pictures followed by a 10 second video. You have to be within 45 feet to connect so I just drive toward the end of the driveway, connect and download all the content. It seems to be a pretty solid setup so far.

I had started refilling the stand on Wednesday and had several bags of smoking wood along with some kindling and a loose stack of mixed hardwood. I watched a customer load all the bagged wood Thursday morning. It was so nice to come home for lunch and find cash in the box. If he hadn't paid, I'd have plenty of evidence to ID the culprit. Last night I filled the remaining loose stacks and replaced most of the bagged wood. Hopefully we turned the corner and will have a profitable year.

 

That's great, Gary. Sure hope that deters the theft.

 

Incarceration works for many. Hopefully it doesn't come to that!

 

License plates clearly visible? Day and night?

 

Got snow overnight and this morning. This is a view of the roadside stand from my cellular camera.

Sent from my motorola edge plus 5G UW (2022) using Tapatalk

 

Do you have to post that you have camera surveillance? Nice clear picture.

 

Very nice

 

Honestly I have no idea but I do have signage on my stand to that effect. I thought a sign itself might be a deterrent, but apparently that wasn't the case.

 

Not a bad idea considering what happened. My friend where I store and process wood is retiring the end of March so I thought of maybe starting up a stand.

 

WooHoo. Good for you Gary!

Really ashamed what one has to do in todays day and age to deter theft instead of having faith in your fellow man.

 

Hopefully it does. Lock the SOB(s) up and throw away the key!

 

My stepfather told me something when I was an early teen and it has stuck with me thru all theses years
A lock only keeps an honest person honest

 

Don't worry. I have no qualms about pressing charges if the situation arises.

 

100%. I've been a few dollars short at the stand over the years but, for the most part, people have done the right thing. I'm thankful for that. At this point, I don't want to be on a thief's radar thinking that my firewood is an easy target.