My wood storage area is out of the view of the road and I park my truck in the path to the shed so hopefully I don't have any theft. There is on fellow burner up the road and he has all of his wood and his splitter right next to the road without problems.
I have motion sensor camera's that calls my phone now and a dog named Molly, she doesn't take kindly to strangers. She doesn't know that she isn't an attack dog as she weighs in at about 15 to 18lbs. Enough to let anyone outback know I am on my way out there. Never had any firewood missing but we did catch two guys trying to steal my Splitter very early one morning about two years back. They would have got away with it had it not been for the fact that I had removed the trailer hitch the first day I got it home after it having bounced so high while being towed behind my truck, little wheels on the splitter. They did have a 20" saw and a air nail gun from small shed near the splitter in their truck. Enough for the police to arrest them for petty larceny (just under a thousand dollars).
The NFA recommends a two camera setup for unattended "honor system" firewood sales locations to protect both the wood and the cash box. The same system would work well for a private woodpile. Simply place one camera out in an obvious spot with a sign that calls attention to it. Aim it to record the vehicle as much as the wood pile. Hide a second camera as high as possible and aiming at the first one so you'll have a photo of anyone trying to disable it. Although a camera is easily defeated with a hood or mask, there will be a vehicle involved, and it's easy to figure where it'll be parked for loading. Again, be sure the cameras are at a good angle to see the vehicle (preferably from the rear to avoid headlight glare at night). Those who steal firewood from a private woodpile are not the sharpest tools in the shed and should be relatively easy to defeat. Imagine the genius of the guy who thought "So far we only stole a nail gun and a chainsaw... what's say we spend another 20 minutes here loading up $75 worth of firewood? And put those tools in the truck right now so they know for sure we're up to no good if we get caught."
I agree. Here se ohio we are having the same problem with pills and heroin fueling the the theft problem. Thats another discussion for another day but I am like you, if you are in need I will help you, but dont steal from me.
I enjoy hoarding for the sake of cutting wood! That being said I enjoy cutting and giving it away to those who can no longer CSS. Just another way to give back!
