Appropriate steps to detur firewood thieves

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They got kids? If they do, then you might want to call DCFS if you see any suspicious activity - pot smoking in front of them, abuse issues, etc. They will rip them up one side and down the other. It's not pretty, but it might be necessary.
 
3fer, next time the law shows up (and I'd guess it won't be too long), might as well mention to them that the alley would be a nice quiet spot to take a break when they're out on patrol.

It might be worth a call to the city street dept. and request they put a street sign and dead end sign at the intersection with the street and the alley.

It's best to stay in the right and let the neighbors get frustrated by the fact they can't do anything to ya.
 
oh I don't make a move with out checking with the city or police to make sure I am in the right. Tonight I'm marking out alley.
It looks to me that they have several encroachment issues into the alley. Their issues are not so easy to move- there deck area is elevated about 18" above the alley level. Busted up concrete is the retaining wall. Guess were the wall is- you got it- well into the 15ft wide alley. I'm marking the alley lines, taking pics and then going to the city Monday. After all the city laws they used to bust my hump should apply equally to them no? :hmm3grin2orange:



3fer, next time the law shows up (and I'd guess it won't be too long), might as well mention to them that the alley would be a nice quiet spot to take a break when they're out on patrol.

It might be worth a call to the city street dept. and request they put a street sign and dead end sign at the intersection with the street and the alley.

It's best to stay in the right and let the neighbors get frustrated by the fact they can't do anything to ya.
 
Just measured out the alley. They are encroaching the alley big time in several places. City guy is coming at 1pm to check it out.

The stuff they will have to move is a half-a** retaining wall built from broken up concrete. Lot harder to move than wood.

I also determined that I can keep one full row and one partial row of wood back along the quarry fence, it is off of the right of way.
That cuts the amount of wood I have to move by over half:hmm3grin2orange:

I am so stoked about how this is turning out. Just wondering if I need a bullit proof vest....
 
City came out and checked out the alley encroachments behind the A**hat neighbors. They agreed the crap pile needs to bemoved but were pretty wishy-washy on their pile of busted up concrete that serves as a retaining wall. This thing is nothing but a 30' length of broken concrete slab pieces by maybe 18" high, loosely and haphazardly stacked to create one ugly looking retaining wall. Parts of it are falling off further encroaching into the alley. The one time I took a boat on a trailer back there one of the trailer wheels went up and over the start of the wall. Almost impossible not to do it.


City offered to trim up the alley. I did along the quarry's fence this morning. Now its one neatly trimmed and pretty chain link fence. (not that chainlink fence is very pretty) Neighbors will absolutey hate it. I'll let the city trim out the massive overgrowth along the alley that abuts the neighbors property line, and nicely remind them on a weekly basis until they do it.

Newly trimmed alley fence. The crap pile and overgrowth on the right side also in the right of way, the stone wall of the garage is only about 6" in from the alley line:
<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03295.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/DSC03295.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

crapulant retaining wall, much of which is in the city right of way:
<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03296.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/DSC03296.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This is the side of their garage that directly faces my property- it's out of view for them but in direct view from our patio, until I built a fence two years ago:
<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03294.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/DSC03294.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
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I like the suggestion to show em your completely nuts, except instead of cleaning your guns in plain sight, I would do it by talking to each split as I'm stacking them along the fence that abuts their property..."oh mr black cherry.... I remember killing you with big blue (6401) you are so dry and light now, I can't wait to creamate you"

Then make some swedish candles and proceed to talk to your chainsaws " oh big blue, you are so powerfull" start saw, rev up a few times, shut down, giggle uncontrollably.... proceed to make swedish candles.


I swear I'm going to do it, I bet I'll never have another problem....:hmm3grin2orange:

The candle making would be done in full safety gear- orange Stihl helmet/muffs/face screen, brite orange chaps, etc...
 
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In some ways I miss living in the city. Having to deal with neighbors and their stuff is why I'm not there. I'm not saying I'm perfect, but....come on!

The neighbor to the North moved in at around 2:30 AM. The truck they used had a ramp with the traction bumps. You guessed it! The two wheeler wheels sounded out each and every one of those bumps! The next thing was a car with loud exhaust being warmed up in the driveway for 5-15 minutes at around 6:00 am right next to our bedroom window. The next thing is when the kid got a car, and of course a hopped up stereo needs to go in with the subs kicking! I was there when they were installing it. The dad mentions to his kid: "you're going to get a ticket from this thing". A few months go by. The kid comes in at late hours with it thumping and bumping shaking my windows and any thing that's not nailed down. I go over one day and ask to speak with the kid (18+ years old) and ask/tell him to turn it down before he gets close to my house or the he'll be dealing with the police. He agrees. The next day the dad is all over me about telling his kid what to do! I don't know if the dad forgot about what he said about getting a ticket, or he just didn't want me telling his kid what to do. From what the dad told the kid I thought I had his support..... Oh well!

To the South there moved in a family that liked their music loud too. So loud I couldn't hear my radio in my garage. They'd have partied in their garage that would last way past 10 pm. The music lasted with the party. I called the police about 3-4 time on them. One time I was in the garage and they had their music on so that I couldn't hear myself thing much less the radio. I motioned to them to turn it down. He pointed to his watch indicating that it was before 10. I put my hands over my ears indicating that I couldn't hear a thing. They turned it down.

I have more stories too. The SUV and compact car playing tag on the sidewalk. The cops having a guy laying flat on the ground with 5 squad cars with lights flashing guns drawn about 20-30 feet from my front door.

3ford.....I'm glad I'm not in your shoes.
 
This is the side of their garage that directly faces my property- it's out of view for them but in direct view from our patio, until I built a fence two years ago:
<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03294.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/DSC03294.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Wait one second here: that's my stolen red mountain bike in that dump. :angry:

Your story reinforces the fact of the deterioration of the Gene Pool....condolances.

So, boys and girl remember once again the Pee Rule of location: "live where you can do it without disturbing or bothering or seeing anyone in the four cardinal directions."
 
I'm quite blessed to have good neighbors. I had one that had some rotten kids, and there were a couple minor incidents, but they moved away, and now the house is vacant. Actually, I share this block with 4 other houses, and two of them are vacant. I'm hoping that no jerks move in, but I'm no stranger to calling the police on people.

Keep us posted on how things go.
 
Well last night we had a "problem solving" session with the a**hats and the ward officer. My wife and I both thought the officer was very biased in their favor but by the end of it I thought I had what I wanted... no blocking of the alley period and we agreed on filling in the pond (me doing all the work and paying for materials).. I offered to do that because I want it done.

Well less than 24 hours later we come home to find three of their or their guests cars blocking the only entrance to the alley.
<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03300.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/DSC03300.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03301.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/3fordasho/DSC03301.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I left a message with the ward officer stating that I don't think they are interested in making peace like they swore up and down to him.

Oh and they started to move the construction debris pile behind the garage...guess where they are moving it to?
A few feet around the corner of the garage to join the larger crap pile.
 
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You're too polite, have class, and need a dose of vengence (sp.). Get hold of anyone with "dirty tricks", Spec Ops, or guerrilla experience for suggestions. It is time.

#1. Essence of skunk oil. Available at your fav hunting shop. A little goes a looooong way in vehicles, firepit locale, home, etc.....( Lion urine is a poor substitute, but on the shelves)

#2. Serious photo lights.

#3. Game cameras.

#4. If you and family can, move. Now. The energy sapping for you and yours and deleterious life experience is extreme for you. Think seriously about leaving.

Many many here will have many other ideas better than above.

JMNSHEO
 
#1. Love to do this but the cops would nail me. They don't seem to need evidence just the history between us will point to me. Doesn't seem to matter that they have pissed off other neighbors too. Not to mention they have plenty of other enemies outside the neighborhood.

2 & 3. RE motion lights-Got them after the last incident where they came over and stole tiki torches. They were a good investment and suppliment the camera system well.

4. We are starting to look. Not that we are going to let them drive us out but there are properties just a few miles away that have 5 to 10 times the space and you can barely see the neighbors place. We've lived with in our means and have the advantage of a paid off house and enough savings to pay cash for a different place while we sell this one....



You're too polite, have class, and need a dose of vengence (sp.). Get hold of anyone with "dirty tricks", Spec Ops, or guerrilla experience for suggestions. It is time.

#1. Essence of skunk oil. Available at your fav hunting shop. A little goes a looooong way in vehicles, firepit locale, home, etc.....( Lion urine is a poor substitute, but on the shelves)

#2. Serious photo lights.

#3. Game cameras.

#4. If you and family can, move. Now. The energy sapping for you and yours and deleterious life experience is extreme for you. Think seriously about leaving.

Many many here will have many other ideas better than above.

JMNSHEO
 
Natives are getting restless again...

Well it's been pretty quiet since the last flare up in June.. but I sense it's about to heat up again.

The motion lights seem to get more sensitive in cold weather. The light on the front garage will now occasionally trip when the neighbors get out to their car parked on the street. The floodlights point down onto my front yard so no direct light hits their house or property, but of course there is some incidental light splillage onto the boulevard in front of their property.. I think they have an issue with it... Last night they got into their car, my lights went on and they lay on the horn.... They come back 15mn later and when parking flip on their brights to light up my house.... get out and while walking up their sidewalk she's making all kinds of gestures towards us...(nothing I could identify) but I don't think they were friendly ones -

What am I in for now???
 
Well it's been pretty quiet since the last flare up in June.. but I sense it's about to heat up again.

The motion lights seem to get more sensitive in cold weather. The light on the front garage will now occasionally trip when the neighbors get out to their car parked on the street. The floodlights point down onto my front yard so no direct light hits their house or property, but of course there is some incidental light splillage onto the boulevard in front of their property.. I think they have an issue with it... Last night they got into their car, my lights went on and they lay on the horn.... They come back 15mn later and when parking flip on their brights to light up my house.... get out and while walking up their sidewalk she's making all kinds of gestures towards us...(nothing I could identify) but I don't think they were friendly ones -

What am I in for now???

I'm just south of (your) town and there are a few available properties that I could point you towards.
 
This thread was a great read! Thanks! I couldn't stop once I started. LOL! You did the right thing and handled this situation well. Much better than I would have - I can't stand a thief!!!!!
:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:
 
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