Appropriate steps to detur firewood thieves

[deeker]

We had a local who would lift a few bundles from time to time.

The previous winter '08-'09....so I brought a dozen or so bundles into the house and warmed 'em up for a couple of days. Outside high temp was 12 degrees at the time.

Soaked the bundles with coyote urine, and skunk scent...wrapped them up in heavy duty plastic bags for a couple more days...

Took them back out into the cold...about 48 hours later they "disappeared".

Never had any more stolen.

The jerk's front door and a few windows were open when I drove by...and it was cold!!!

 

[Downsea]

Hi, new guy here. Know anyone that'll loan you their pet skunk?

 

[woodbooga]

yea I wouldnt spend a whole lot of money, Id just simply but nicely ask them.

Id say "hey man, ive been missing some fire wood out of my stack. Have you seen anyone unfamilar up here by chance?"

if they admit to it id say "if you need any more just let me know next time, I dont want people coming on my property without permission"

if they say no i dont know what you are talking about id say "well i got a bullet for them when I catchm"

dont buy a light or camera YET. alot of this can be solved with a gentle conversation. like someone else said, you all are neighbors and you might as well try to get along.

Like avalancher said off the bat, there's something about wood that makes folks not normally theft prone think it's okay to take. Flat out wrong mindset, but it is what it is.

cedarman's approach is similar to what I'd do. Such a chat wouldn't likely lead to an admission...but it would make your neighbor aware that you notice that supply is missing and that you'll likely be more vigilant in keeping an eye out. If your objective is to stop this behavior and have continued good relations, that's the approach. If you want the guy to admit guilt and have something to rub his nose in...well, there's always the option of buying a lot of fancy stuff to catch him in the act.

I'd likely preface the comment by saying something to the effect of, "You might want to keep an eye out for suspicious looking folks around these parts. Haven't seen anyone myself, but I've noticed that some of my wood is missing. Probably just teenagers nabbing some for a campfire for a beer party out in the woods. But you never know."

 

[cedarman]

"You might want to keep an eye out for suspicious looking folks around these parts. Haven't seen anyone myself, but I've noticed that some of my wood is missing. Probably just teenagers nabbing some for a campfire for a beer party out in the woods. But you never know."

perfect. thats all u got to say... he'll most likely get the hint and leave your wood pile alone

 

[3fordasho]

Missing wood- end of stack should have a square corner and be even with the top of the chainlink.

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Junk pile I've had to look at direcly off my patio/grilling area for the last two years - It actually is reduced somewhat, usually has a rusty non-running snowblower, lawnmower. Remains of brown tarp tagged to the side of the garage was his attempt a "shed" roof- lasted about a week then the wind blew it around for the next 12 months:

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Last May we held our daughter's wedding in our yard, the reception tent was beside that junk pile They knew the wedding was comming six months in advance. They never put their cars in the garage- t's a "studio" party shack.

Pond we put in together- mostly financed by me- (should have listened to that little voice that was saying this is a bad idea). Labor was equally shared during install, 90% me after. Other maintenance/replacement items 90% me (2xpumps, 2x UV filters) They just bought the table/chair set.
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Sorry it's looking a bit shabby, I am about "done" with maintaining it all by myself.

The rest of the wood piles
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[3fordasho]

Hi, new guy here. Know anyone that'll loan you their pet skunk?

That's a good one, unfortunately they are quite used to skunk scent. Everytime they are out back drinking till they pass out the dog is left out all night... -Everytime- that happens the dog will find a skunk and get a facefull. It's happened 7-8 times I kid you not.

 

[KMB]

Nobody tells a story like Avalancher!!!!
You should really write a book....I'd buy it!

:agree2: Never a dull read!

Kevin

 

[deeker]

Hi, new guy here. Know anyone that'll loan you their pet skunk?

Sporting goods stores. Trapping scents, or cover up scents for archery hunters.

 

[bluestem]

I agree with cedarman put yourself up a nice fence. Seems like you have been putting up with there crap for years, you are a much more patient neighbor than I would be.

 

[DJ4wd]

Even someone whos is trespassing is still under your care of protection, and anything that could hurt them wile on your land is your responsibility. If they fell in a old mine shaft, was to step in a bear trap or a limb falls on them while there.,or some other booby trap
Falls under a duty of care, and they can bring a claim against you for it.
We are covering this in my law class right now. just a FYI because I hate thieves and trespassers myself

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

If you dont want to piss the neighbors off with bright lights, consider using a motion sensing light.

:agree2:

That will act as a deterrent, but won't run up your electric bill and annoy your neighbors by being on all the time.

I would also mention the problem to the neighbor in casual conversation, if they realize that you know wood is missing they might be less likely to walk off with any more.

Absolutely! You've been robbed! It's the neighborly thing to warn your neighbors that there's a scum sucking, low down, worthless vile piece of dung who is stealing wood in the neighborhood, and you want them to know so they can be alert!

It's the Neighborhood Watch kind of thing, right? Of course you aren't accusing them, you're just passing along a warning.

Right?

 

[3fordasho]

I agree with cedarman put yourself up a nice fence. Seems like you have been putting up with there crap for years, you are a much more patient neighbor than I would be.

Seems like it might be the answer more and more. I'm thinking of a fence design that would incorporate a row or two of firewoodstorage along it.. On my side of course! I personally don't mind looking at a long row of stacked splits

 

[SpiralAcacia]

Yeah, you and I know that, and so does anyone else who harvests firewood for either sale or to heat their home.The rest of the world has no idea.

Last year my wife donated some firewood to a woman she works with,I didnt know about it until she got home and fessed up.Woman was going to have a Christmas party at her new home, and really wanted to have a dog and pony show.That included a nice fire burning in the fireplace.Sigh.....
I loaded up a face cord after talking to her on the phone.I wanted to make sure we had easy access to dump the wood.She said sure,just back right up to the door.

When I got there,there she was.Standing on the porch of her condo.The upstairs condo.I figured there had to be some mistake.Nope.
She explained that I could pull right up to the bottom of the stairs and haul all that wood up the stairs, through her condo,and stack it on the back porch.

Not wanting to cause a scene,I figured what the heck.I chugged down a thermos full of coffe and loaded up an armload of white oak and trudged my way up the six hundred and thirty two steps, pausing mid way to enjoy the geese flying and the Boeing 747 that near knocked me down from the jetwash.It actually was a good experience for me, I lost 36 pounds delivering that load of wood.

After I was finally done with carrying all that up,I realized that I had missed six birthdays during the delivery,but I figured that was alright since I dont have a clue as to how old I am anyway. I thought I was 43,my daughter swears im 94,and my neighor insists Im 16.As I paused before heading down the stairs, the woman handed me a tuperware container.I peeked inside and low and behold there was a dozen rock hard oatmeal cookies.I hate oatmeal cookies.

Trying to be polite,I thanked the woman and just turned to go when she mentioned that it probably took her longer to bake those cookies than it did for me to cut and split the wood,and probably cost more as well for the tuperware container.But being the kind hearted woman that she claimed to be,she was willing to let it slide if I sent the tuperware back with the wife.

I sure was glad that I was wore out,otherwise it would have been the first time in my history for pelting a woman senseless with an oatmeal cookie.

(Still laughing, rep sent)
SA

p.s.
You could have cut a few COOKIES off of a 2" stick and shoved it in her tupperware thingy for your wife to take back... The nerve!
Unbelievable.

 

[NCPABill]

Free - isn't

I hate the "free" misconception. The instant I touch the chain to wood the wood is no longer free. Almost the entire value of firewood (if not the entire value) - especially if it is on your own property - is labor and equipment overhead.

I agree. Every item has a worth that is equal to what the fair market value will support. What a person pays for it originally is inconsequential - because a guy gets a good deal doesn't mean they need to pay the deal onto the next guy. Conversely, if a person gets hosed when they buy something, they seem to expect to pass the expense onto the next buyer - "just because you made a bad choice, don't expect me to pay for it!"

 

[3fordasho]

Free - isn't

I agree. Every item has a worth that is equal to what the fair market value will support. What a person pays for it originally is inconsequential - because a guy gets a good deal doesn't mean they need to pay the deal onto the next guy. Conversely, if a person gets hosed when they buy something, they seem to expect to pass the expense onto the next buyer - "just because you made a bad choice, don't expect me to pay for it!"

This whole issue got me thinking just what my investment is per split.
Sure most (not all) of the wood was free... but from the time my chainsaw touches the wood to when it's stacked in my backyard the costs are suprising. I've attached a pdf version of the spreadsheet I used to figure my cost per split. It's a bit hard to follow the spreadsheet, I'm no excel expert . Sure the costs come down as I collect & process more wood, but at this point in time with the wood that's sitting in the backyard right now, my cost per split is $.32.
If the neighbors had to purchase all the equipment & truck I use to process the wood, and processed a similar amount of wood, their cost per split would be $1.08 per split. Free it ain't.

 

[gtsawyer]

I just realized that on my last year's fishing trip I paid like $5.54 for each trout - and that was just the cost due to the out of state fishing license. I caught three of 'em. Tasty enough, but I certainly could have saved a bit of money by going to the local Saveway and buying what trout they had.

There's a lot of cost involved with a delivered cord of wood. I can see why those who do it for a living ain't getting rich fast. For this reason I only treat firewood getting as a hobby - I can't justify the expense by the value of the finished product.

 

[cedarman]

no wonder they took your wood, look at all that free fire wood you got stacked in yourback yard:hmm3grin2orange: just kidding!

thats the problem with the US and our government. People see others with extra whether it be money or firewood and think its okay to take cuz in their mind "they got plenty"


WELL DAM IT, IT AINT OKAY!!! they could have the same pile of firewood you got or the same amnount of money in their acct. as a wealthly man if they got off their AZZ, took a little bit of initiative and worked. Instead of redistribution of wealth, your redistributing your firewood.

this government and peoples mentality makes me sick. utterly sick!

okay im off my soapbox now

 

[sum beech]

Bore a hole in a couple sticks big enough to insert an aersol can........nuf said.

 

[avalancher]

My wife tried that sort of logic on me years ago after seeing the bills for new saws,truck repairs,new splitter, etc.
But, as I pointed out, a guy has to have an outlet,and if I wasnt busting wood I would be doing something else with my time.
I can honestly tell you one thing, after going in the firewood business I have never ever watched a sporting event on TV,stopped by the local watering hole,watched a Nascar race,or been accused of drinking to excess and making an azz of myself since.

To top it off,our house stays right where she likes it, right around 75 degrees and the power bill in the winter time is always $150 cheaper than in the summer time.I have never spent a dime of family money on saws,truck repairs,new equipement, and all of our Christmas spending money comes from wood sales.

There is money to be made with wood cutting,its all a matter of perspective.If I wasnt spending money on saws and other wood related crap there is no doubt I would blow money on some of my old favorite past times.Not to mention that thermostat would be welded at the 70 degree mark!

 

[3fordasho]

Bore a hole in a couple sticks big enough to insert an aersol can........nuf said.

Hmm, need something that leaves no evidence behind and is readily available.

Aerosol can will leave evidence and they will be more than happy to sue my a##.