Trespassing + theft issue

[David P]

well- i have followed this from the start and for me I just hope you get some resolve to it. I guess for me- I wish they could see what it has done to you and your wife and heartace it has caused you. That their stealing has caused you a LOT of pain... Lets hope you can move on after its all said and done. Heck maybe something good will come out of it all?

AndyG

AndyG,

Not so much heartache and pain as aggravation and consternation. I have really just wanted to make the proper decision. I'm not very happy about having to spend the $$$ on an extra camera, steel case to hold it etc but it is what it is. My hope is that they offer to make it right to the investigating trooper and he comes back to us with that. Time will tell.

Thanks for the kind words!

 

[Western]

Heck maybe something good will come out of it all? AndyG

I agree with this for sure, say maybe , respect for others property.

IMO it isn't the "berries", but the principle of the thing.

I think your decision is prudent and in like response to the cards you where dealt.

 

[two_bit_score]

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."

If a loss of 80 officers caused them to cut back that far then they need to replace the entire command staff because they are incompetent.

 

[johnrex62]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ultrarunner
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."

If a loss of 80 officers caused them to cut back that far then they need to replace the entire command staff because they are incompetent.

I would be tempted to ask if they would come after the burglars had been shot or if I should just wait for garbabe pickup. :confused2:

 

[Pa Pa Jack]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ultrarunner
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 can't help but wonder if that would be their response if it was the Mayor's house or a local judges house? Selective enforcement of the laws seems to be the theme at all levels of government today.

 

[jonyyuma]

You should try to keep a level head about this action. They have already stolen more from you than blueberrys..Peace of mind is priceless....and once you were Hit, then you are always looking? Right? At least you have the photos, so you know whom the perp is.

 

[J_J]

I don't believe some of the sissyfied reaponses on here. You should have busted his/their A**'s early on, you know, accidently on purpose, plus double trouble. You know, round up balloons in his yard, trees dying for some unknown reason, roofing tacks in the driveway. etc. Leave some berries by the fence with that special flavor, similar to yellow snow.

What about the guy in Texas the guy killed those guys that were breaking into a neighbors house and he confronted them. Just taking care of business.

 

[ultrarunner]

I can't help but wonder if that would be their response if it was the Mayor's house or a local judges house? Selective enforcement of the laws seems to be the theme at all levels of government today.

A lot of what is in the paper is politically motivated... I imagine it's posturing... same as any big city where different groups don't necessarily have the community best interest at heart.

Yesterday, a 3 year old boy was shot dead walking with his mother by a stray bullet in broad daylight from a drive-by...

Today, the mayor has said she will find a way to get many of the laid off officers back to work...

Time will tell...

 

[kude]

You got pictures of them on your property. Go to their house and tell them the truth and how you would like them to stop stealing your blueberries. Maybe they will feel stupid and move away. It seems like the old days where you are the law concerning your property.

I had an annoying neighbor that stole a neighbors generator right in front of me. My good neighbor had left it in a pile of wood I disposed of. I set it aside and the annoying neighbor justed grabbed it and walked off. WTF? So I ratted the the annoying neighbor out to the good neigbhor. The good neignbor went right over to this jerk's house and asked for it back. he got it back.

Thankfully the annoying neighbor moved away to another part of town.

This stealing neighbor won't be the first time you will have to confront people on your property, so get used to being the law on your land.

 

[forgeblast]

Going to their house...really! Your on their property, they can call the cops on you and then it becomes he/she said on what really went down. These people crawled under an electric fence to steal blueberries instead of paying for them. They will, when cornered or confronted yell the loudest and make the biggest stink. (I worked a 3rd job in retail for years, I know theives). Let the professionals handle it, wash your hand of them. You did what you had to do to protect your business. Dont have any bad feelings about going to the police....do you think they had bad feelings when they went picking and then eating with out paying. Put it this way they broke into your place of business and stole from you.
The less contact you have with them consider it as a gift for paying taxes that support the police. No way on earth I would go to their property, and confront them on their land, about criminal activity they did on your property. Now they come back on your property after the Police talk with them I would do what JJ's suggests

 

[wedge40]

My thoughts: As I have indicated previously, I have felt very compelled to visit the couple in person while recording our conversation and demand payment with the understanding that if I don't get it I will go to the police. I am very even keeled in discussions like that and have no doubt that I would have been able to maintain my composure. However, my wife is typically a very good judge of character and was quite adamant that a personal visit would not end well. Additionally, they have had ample time to make things right of their own accord. It would have been very easy for them to have contacted my wife to set up a time to pick berries and simply overpaid for them as a way to save face.

Trust your wife's instincts. Don't know about Michigan law, but if you're on some else's property and they feel threatened they have right to to use force against you. As it should be. Let the cops and law handle this. I know it's the principle of it, but in the long run you'll feel better for it.
Wedge

 

[bdeboer]

Local Ace Hardware was sued by someone and lost because they had bounced checks on display... something to do with privacy and Bill Collection.

I wondered about that before and wonder if the account number etc. was covered if that would help.

A local quarry has a chalk board with names of their "cash" only customers.

 

[Mace Canute]

Yep, don't have any direct contact with them. Get the police involved and let them lay charges and when/if they get convicted (or they might even plead guilty), THEN you go after them in Small Claims Court for costs...ALL costs including pain & suffering and mental anguish besides your loss of product and filing costs and the time you have to take off from your real work to appear in SCC AND the time you spent dealing with the police and at their trial if you are asked to testify against them! Maybe even part of the cost of your cameras since they have proved that you need them to find out who was thieving from you. The judge just might give you a partial % of their cost too. Can't hurt to try, eh? If you don't ask for ALL costs at SCC, you can't go back for seconds...you only get one kick at the cat so to speak

 

[hawkeye08]

Glad you chose to go ahead with police action. I agree that if you go on their property, you are at risk.

 

[NorTracNY]

Going to their house...really! Your on their property, they can call the cops on you and then it becomes he/she said on what really went down. These people crawled under an electric fence to steal blueberries instead of paying for them. They will, when cornered or confronted yell the loudest and make the biggest stink. (I worked a 3rd job in retail for years, I know theives). Let the professionals handle it, wash your hand of them. You did what you had to do to protect your business. Dont have any bad feelings about going to the police....do you think they had bad feelings when they went picking and then eating with out paying. Put it this way they broke into your place of business and stole from you.
The less contact you have with them consider it as a gift for paying taxes that support the police. No way on earth I would go to their property, and confront them on their land, about criminal activity they did on your property. Now they come back on your property after the Police talk with them I would do what JJ's suggests

Well said!

I'm surprised to hear that you have not caught them in the last few days. I guess they got tired of blueberries?

 

[Car Doc]

I know what me and a few of my friends would do about it but we dont talk like that on a public forum but as far as answering your question its cut and dry imho.

Call the cops give them copy's of the pics save copy's for yourself for court just in case and go after them like a bulldog make it really sting personally for them they have it coming those lousy pukes need to learn from it.

You have every right to write a letter to your local paper and talk about the recent break in at your new orchard etc dont say you have photos or know who it is and then when the facts arise and hopefully a conviction and the names are released in court records everyone in town will relate back to the letter and know all about it.

 

[zzvyb6]

Call Detroit's WXYZ Channel 7 Action News department (wxyz.com) or visit their website and go to the 'investigators' page. This would be a great story for Investigators Heather, Scott or Bill. Imagine a TV news crew going up to your house and asking why you are stealing fruit when you live in a house and neighborhood like this? They will want you pictures and story, then they make a visit with cameras rolling. On a slow news day, this will get huge reviews. People (viewers) want to see stuff like this ! They (like folks here) only dream about revenge like this. I did this once about some cable company trespassing problems and this went Stateside (on Michigan ABC stations).

 

[Sulla]

I still say get some pigs!

Seriously stay away from these people. Anyone who would steal berries from a neighbor, berries for heavens sake, probably kicks their dog and beats their children. They'll have no problem getting physical on their property and then you have a real problem.

Walk away...let the cops handle it.

Then again there's always the pigs.

 

[David P]

I still say get some pigs!

Seriously stay away from these people. Anyone who would steal berries from a neighbor, berries for heavens sake, probably kicks their dog and beats their children. They'll have no problem getting physical on their property and then you have a real problem.

Walk away...let the cops handle it.

Then again there's always the pigs.

LOL@ the "kicks their dog and beats their children" comment!

Done! Dropped the info at the PD and gave them the go-ahead a week ago. I'll check back with them in another week for an update.

 

[YesDeere]

LOL@ the "kicks their dog and beats their children" comment!

Done! Dropped the info at the PD and gave them the go-ahead a week ago. I'll check back with them in another week for an update.

Please do. Been waiting to hear how this works out for you. Some people just suck. You did right.