Have you ever had anything stolen from your garden?

Smart Red

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Not exactly my garden, but we used to have a large bramble of black-caps growing between our arborvitae hedge and the road. I was watching them ripen until they were just right. I planned to harvest them right after school that day. Evidently, someone else was watching my raspberries as well because when I got there with my pails all the berries had been picked over and the plants stomped to the ground.

That was the last time I allowed the brambles to grow there. We cut them down and now I mow the area while I pick the black-caps that grow in other areas around the property.
 

Carol Dee

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My Husband is fuming.... yesterday he was out in the back of our lot and noticed a tree was MISSING. On closer inspection, THREE trees where cut out and completely carried away down to the smallest branches! We think it happened in the last 2 or 3 days/nights. Only clue left behind was where it drove in and out through the neighbors ditch and back lane. Looks to have been a dually. After talking to family and the neighbors, he reported it to the sheriffs department. They will keep a watch on the property and asked who has permission to be their. Jeez. Odd thing is they where silver maples, one about 12-15 inch diameter the other two may 8-10 inches. And left the bigger, forty foot tall and straight walnuts standing? So it is not likely they look them for lumber.
 

Chickie'sMomaInNH

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you might want to check to see if any of your trees have burls growing on them. i've been hearing about illegal cutting of trees with those growing because the burls can fetch a huge amount of money. or it could be someone trying to cut a few trees for firewood and they went with ones that could easily be hauled away in a hurry. i've heard about the pine trees at holiday times being stolen too.

i haven't had too many issues with veggies being stolen by 2 legged thieves. (unless you count my chickens who steal my tomatoes just before they're ripe :rolleyes: ) its mostly 4 legged thieves i have to watch for.
 

Carol Dee

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DH is leaning towards someone want fire wood. (But why take GREEN trees?) Or clearing around an area that has intersecting deer trails. But them his tree stand is right there, too. And posted private property, no trespassing etc... I told him it is time to put the trail cam back up.
 

897tgigvib

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Carol, put a motion detecting camera(s) on those Walnut trees. Those are the units that will fetch the big bucks. Also, be listening for lumber mill saws running at odd hours in your territory. Sometimes it is better to CATCH thieves rather than deter them.
 

lesa

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One of the first years we had our apple tree- we had 3 apples on it... One for each of us. One day I walked out and all three of the apples had been picked- had a human bite taken out of them and were then tossed onto the grass. I was so sad, since they were the first apples from that tree and we had thought it was cute that we each had one. Ah, human beings...
 
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