Hay theft?

[John Fitzgerald]

A relative of ours has 60 acres of relatively poor grassland. They have a cabin/ shed on it. A neighbor went in without permission and made about 50 bales off it. They were planning to leave it natural and uncut. What should they do?

 

[ovrszd]

Collect money for the bales or call the Sheriff.

Also, have a coming to Jesus meeting with neighbor.

 

[aczlan]

Did the neighbor take the bales, or leave them there?

Aaron Z

 

[Diggin It]

How often are they there to make their presence and intentions known? Is the property fenced? Posted with signs?

 

[ovrszd]

So I have to fence my field and post signs to protect myself from someone cutting hay on me? Not in Missouri.

 

[3Ts]

Be careful on this. If your relative isn't there all the time, the neighbor may have just been trying to help out (based on their perception of what needed to be done) and was not trying to steal the hay. Check with the neighbor (nicely) to see what was up.
I was gone for awhile and my neighbor took it upon himself to come over and mow (without letting me know). He ended up mowing down some highly prized flowers, but he was trying to look out for my best interests - we ended up being very good friends and I'd trade the flowers for the friendship.

 

[ovrszd]

Be careful on this. If your relative isn't there all the time, the neighbor may have just been trying to help out (based on their perception of what needed to be done) and was not trying to steal the hay. Check with the neighbor (nicely) to see what was up.
I was gone for awhile and my neighbor took it upon himself to come over and mow (without letting me know). He ended up mowing down some highly prized flowers, but he was trying to look out for my best interests - we ended up being very good friends and I'd trade the flowers for the friendship.

Although touching story, if this neighbor took the hay, not the same.

Last year hay was selling here for $100 p/bale. That would be $5,000. That's a lot of flowers.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

I just learned he caught them when they finished baling. The going rate there is $70 per bale. They were going to just take it. Should they pay half, like $35 per bale? The 60 acres is not fenced, but there is a driveway and cabin/ barn / trailer on it. The neighbor knew. Would you say pay me, or leave it in the field?

 

[atsah]

Leave it and screw and don't do it again.. So they worked for nothing, that's a good lesson for them..

Some people have a lot of nerve..

 

[Jstpssng]

Leave it and screw and don't do it again.. So they worked for nothing, that's a good lesson for them..

Some people have a lot of nerve..

That's the best suggestion that I've read.