Trespassing + theft issue

[Gods Country]

Don't make it any harder than it has to be. Go to the police and make them do something.

 

[forgeblast]

2 things.
1. Go to the police first and
2. contact your local tv station.
We had two "ladies" steal produce from a local produce stand. They showed the video and gave the police number for help in tracking down who stole the produce. The Farm stand was on the honor system and they stole everything the farmer had. He did have a game cam in there. These people are theives, and by asking for help in catching them you are letting other thieves know your property is protected.

 

[psj12]

I have no respect for a thief and do not feel the need to tip toe around them for fear of making an enemy (they already are). Have them arrested if possible. This will let all the good neighbors know what they are.

 

[deepNdirt]

I would be curious as to know what they're doing with the berries? surely with this amount of berries is not for their own personal use, how ever It wouldn't make since either that they would be selling them to local markets, when I'm sure the markets already knows about your established berry farm and they could simply buy directly from you,

Just because they are neighbors to your farm property doesn't give them rights to help themselves to your berries,
I would try and find out if these people have been steeling from you only to sale them on the open markets,
Look on the local C-List for Blueberries for sale? if so fallow up on who is selling them, find out if they travel outside of town to sell the berries, Find out if anyone in their family or any friends has a country store somewhere etc,etc, Find out how long they have been providing them? if you can prove they been making money from selling your berries ( stolen berries) you might have another charge to hang on them,
and might be more money due back to you,

BTW , we have a small Blueberry orchard and cannot give them away fast enough before they fall to the ground and go to waste, But I wouldn't give them to a neighbor who would think nothing of steeling from me,

 

[houstonscott]

Do it the Texas way. Go over tell them you have evidence of them on you property stealing, if you catch them in the act you will kill them.

HS

 

[foreman Etexas]

Southern Fried Stings:thumbsup:

 

[dmccarty]

Go the police. Let them do their job. You have the evidence, know who did it, and know their name. It is an easy one for the police.

At a minimum there is the theft charge. Depending on the law in your state there might be a trespass charge as well. You had up a sign. In NC I need more than one sign to follow the law. On the other hand you had a fence up and that can count towards the trespass charge. In NC, the fence SHOULD increase the the trespass charge.

If you do nothing, they will continue to steal. If you send them a note, they could easily continue to steal or worse. If you let the Police handle it, all of the above is true as well. Most likely they will stop.

I would let the Police handle it and set up more security camera's. If they do see the video they will have a good chance of figuring out the camera location. I would be tempted to leave the first camera in place and put another camera to cover the first.

What I would NOT do is directly confront them. No reason for you to do so and you open yourself up for counter charges if you visit their house.

Later,
Dan

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm thinking what would my Grandfather have done...

He was more of the soft spoken carry a big stick kind of guy... believed it was good for business to "Give" people the "Opportunity" to do the right thing.

I could see him going over to the people in question with a 10lb box of berries "To save them the effort of having to pick them after hours" along with presenting a bill for all the product received. He would also say something like he was sure glad they liked his berries because the security camera has them coming and going on multiple occasions...

I remember a neighbor down the road had been using Gramps land for a dump... he gathered all the items and deposited it in their driveway... the lady of the house was incredulous and said her husband is a lawyer to which my Grandfather replied that was good to know since a lawyer would know all about the law and illegal dumping... turns out their teenage son had pocketed the money for dump runs and used Gramps place for disposal...

Gramps had them because the proof was in the trash... envelopes with their address.

 

[hawkeye08]

let the police handle it, make sure to keep copies of any evidence given to police.

 

[ultrarunner]

let the police handle it, make sure to keep copies of any evidence given to police.

In reading some of the replies... it appears the police are much more responsive there.

Had a break-in, forced entry at a vacant home and called the police and was told they no longer responded unless it was a crime in progress or physical injury.

I was told to go online and file a report so I would have documentation for Insurance.

 

[beppington]

Had a break-in, forced entry at a vacant home and called the police and was told they no longer responded unless it was a crime in progress or physical injury.

I was told to go online and file a report so I would have documentation for Insurance.

Now THAT's the story I would make sure the local news knew all about. Ridiculous.

 

[beppington]

I would send them a very brief letter stating that you are holding evidence that they have stolen from you more than once, & see if that does the trick. That might 1) stop them, & 2) avoid things getting worse/ retaliation. If that doesn't stop them, then I'd get the police formally involved, distribute the flier with pic(s) & contact the local news.

 

[MoKelly]

Do it the Texas way. Go over tell them you have evidence of them on you property stealing, if you catch them in the act you will kill them.

HS

Don't mess with Texas.

MoKelly

 

[ultrarunner]

Now THAT's the story I would make sure the local news knew all about. Ridiculous.

The story went national in USA today...

Cutbacks force police to curtail calls for some crimes - USATODAY.com

Here's a department quote:

"If you come home to find your house burglarized and you call, we're not coming," said Oakland Police spokeswoman Holly Joshi. The city laid off 80 officers from its force of 687 last month and the department can't respond to burglary, vandalism, and identity theft. "It's amazing. It's a big change for us."

 

[abeal]

Whatever you do let us know and the outcome.

 

[beppington]

The story went national in USA today...

Cutbacks force police to curtail calls for some crimes - USATODAY.com

Here's a department quote:

"If you come home to find your house burglarized and you call, we're not coming," said Oakland Police spokeswoman Holly Joshi. The city laid off 80 officers from its force of 687 last month and the department can't respond to burglary, vandalism, and identity theft. "It's amazing. It's a big change for us."

I'd like to know how they decided to outright fire people instead of simply reducing the salaries of all the existing employees. Doing that would 1) result in the same # of staff able to handle cases, & 2) no new unemployed. Sure, a few would be angry, quit & try to go find another job. But, with the lower wages you're now paying, you could simply hire someone to replace them. It seems most of our politicians don't seem to have the ability to make logical decisions.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Put some posted signs and put them in the back ground were the game camera can get them in the picture if you dont already have them. We cought some trespassers one time and they were looking down the barrell of a 12 gauge shotgun. Guess word got out!!!! They were just hog hunters and there dogs came over but now they come to the door and ask!!!:thumbsup:

 

[dmccarty]

I'd like to know how they decided to outright fire people instead of simply reducing the salaries of all the existing employees. Doing that would 1) result in the same # of staff able to handle cases, & 2) no new unemployed. Sure, a few would be angry, quit & try to go find another job. But, with the lower wages you're now paying, you could simply hire someone to replace them. It seems most of our politicians don't seem to have the ability to make logical decisions.

Most likely because there is not enough money savings. Benefits and other overhead can be a large percentage of person's compensation. It might take a HUGE cut in pay for everyone to meet the budget vs laying off people.

I know of companies decades ago that had no raises for years to keep employees but alas that is out the window these days.

Later,
Dan

 

[ch47dpilot]

We have 30acres, and people on 4wheelers are constantly out there. Also, a man and his son, whom robbed a nearby store, was living on the property, while my husband was in Korea at the time. FBI and state police called me to come out there and asked for my keys to property to look for criminals. They had even cut down several trees, and dug a HUGE fire pit. We are always fighting with trespassers. I would put out fliers, send a copy to the criminals, contact police, and send a certified letter( a copy of your request to sue in small claims).

 

[Combustix]

I would check the time and date stamps on your cameras, most people being creatures of habit will return to continue thier crime around the same time and days. I would be waiting with my cell phone to call police the moment they step onto your property, oh and maybe a shotgun for personnel protection and to hold them just in case.