Trespassers-the ongoing saga

[David LaPell]

Well, for those of you that have been keeping up with this, I have had yet another incident with the local who keeps on wandering through my property. With my wife in the hospital last week, I really have not had the time to check the cameras like I wanted to. So this morning I decided to do a little bird hunting (nothing seen) and to check the cameras afterwards. Well, one camera is now nowhere to be seen, strap, padlock and all. It snowed here on Saturday, and there are no tracks, so it was taken before then. Suprisingly enough, this one was overlooking the Posted Signs and barricades I had erected before. The other news is, the idiot was seen on camera #2, the one he didn't take. The picture didn't come out that well unfortunately, but it is still there. I notified the local sheriffs and a deputy is on his way over to his house as I type this. While the odds of him finding the camera are slim, I told the sheriff that if for some reason he kept the padlock, all my locks are keyed the same, and I have the key here.
This whole thing is going to court this Wednesday at 10am.

 

[jag312]

Cameras are good. Land mines are better.

 

[BarbC]

Good. Court is a valuable experience and a good teacher. Fines are even better.

 

[Vegetaman]

Cameras are good. Land mines are better.

Did somebody say "bear trap"?

Best of luck to you though, sir. Trespassers are a royal pain in the ass, and the best excuse they come up with is "It was my first time" or "I didn't see anybody".

 

[HGWT]

You know years ago we had a real problem with treaspasser and someone, we never found out who, booby trapped the road. Their where alot of 4wheeler and other vehicle with 4 flat tires. We now get an occasional trespasser where they take there 4wheeler and bang the fense post down and cross over but not like they use to. My son last spring ran into someone turkey hunting on federal land next to ours and the hunter advised him to stay away from our property.

 

[gunlovingirl]

Good luck! I hope there's enough evidence to prosecute him and you get your camera back. I've never understood the mentality (or lack of) of people who think they have a right to go wherever they want and do whatever they want. They have no respect for other's property. I hope the thief gets caught and spends some time behind bars, right where he belongs!

 

[The Big D]

David:

This is quite unbelievable...not your accounts...that the knucklehead continues his criminal activity.

Do keep us posted, please; particularly regarding the court proceedings.

Be safe.

 

[kennyb]

i'll venture a guess that there is something of great interest on your land that keeps bringing him back....

 

[Wayne02]

Welcome to rural property ownership, I feel your pain. Keep on them and follow this thing through.

I would suggest that as this deal plays out you be extra mindful of your surroundings, and not just while at home. In many areas the 'good old boy network' is alive and well and it often permeates the local area at many levels.

You are new to the area and you are holding people accountable, that's two strikes against you with the local GOBN right off the bat. Be wary of things like vehicle vandalism while you are in town, your kids getting hassled at school etc.

On the flip side it is good to become engaged in the community in a positive fashion - volunteering, Church etc.

I have found that moving to a rural community often takes both some 'defense' and some 'offense'.

 

[ladder13]

In Delaware County NY, they'll siphon your oil tank or even your gas tank. Happened to a friend opening week. He heard some commotion, and a buzzing sound down the road where the cars were parked. After leaving the woods, and upon starting his car, he noticed the fuel gauge stayed on. Freakin' thieves stole the gas out of his tank.

 

[oldRoger]

Ah yes, the joys of rural living. We built our house in IL on 6 acres which had ravines on three sides, quite steep hillsides.
Second year after building my wife looked out the kitchen window at a nice lady bending over about ten feet away. Turns out she was hunting Morrels, said she "oh every one hunts mushrooms and blackberries here".
We were both working during the week, and the whole county was using our yard for a mushroom patch. Parked in the drive by the garage too. Drove the dog nuts but he was fenced in and not smart enough to tell us his problem. Oh and then in the winter came the snowmobiles......

 

[tallpaul]

Ya would not believe the freakin idiots who believe they have the right to trespass. I have engaged in many a heated discussion on several forums where folk I thought were upstanding defend the right to free roam property etc.

Supposidly there are laws in some states that travel without damage is ok. I still don't see how but stranger things are around.

As far as I am concerned stay off MY land unless I give you permission and that does not give ya permission to come to my door!

I sure as heck ain't gonna argue with anyone who thinks my land is there for their use without my ok...

I haven't had to deal with many of my own thank God... but then again I am rather vocal and firm about such events.