[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Thieves!!!!!! (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 8/5/2008 2:47:27 PM EDT
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I came home today and found ALL the ripe tomatos in my garden stolen! They were there last night and were ready to be picked today! They didn't touch my peppers though. I think it was the punk kids that live behind me. Just reminder that should the SHTF, that we all will have to keep an eye on our stuff! If this happens during good times, then think of what will happen in the bad. |
Your rant is missing a few relevant details. Were the footprints around your garden human or animal? Animals can pick through a garden in no time flat. If human, which way did the tracks lead? How old are the suspect neighbor kids? What obstacles did the bandits go through to get to your garden? Fences? Anything? |
I have been gardening all my life, so I can tell you with absolute certainty that there is NO F'ING WAY that a squirrel or two is gonna get that many maters from last night to this afternoon. I'm gonna set up my game cam and get proof them head over there. |
This type of theft is up around here, too. We just picked some ripe tomatoes and green peppers and they are the biggest I have seen in quite some time. The ones we raised here look almost too good to eat, but we plan to take a few of the peppers and stuff them with beef and gravy. |
You mean you DON'T have a giant diesel generator just waiting so you can post pics when the SHTF? 
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Wouldn't the EMP set it off? 
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Looks like its time for a fence... Nothing says "I love my neighbor" better than six feet of chain link and maybe a little barb wire... |
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I would be more apt to have some fun with it, inject them next time several days ahead knowing you will not pick them. They will quit eatting stuff it makes them sick ENOUGH. Even if you have to toss them because they don't get them all, it would be worth it. Your choice of injections are many have fun with this don't let it eat you up with stress. Just don't tell us or ANYONE you did it, remember to be able to have denial. |
You might be better saying poison in stead of strychnine. Little kids can read poison. I'm sure some adults can't read strychnine. As far as actually poisoning you garden, bad idea. What if the thief sells the tomatos at a vegetable stand? To your Wife maybe? |
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I have security cameras in my back yard, and I plan on growing a garden next year, there will be a camera pointed in that direction. You can not see where the garden was in this picture, but it was on the left side of the trailer that you can see. My current possible threat would be coming through the gate on the far right in the form of a neighbor's Pit Bull attacking my Labrador.  Bill |
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In many parts 'round here, folks make a cage/fence from chicken wire to keep (primarily) deer out, not much effort to build one and it serves to keep many other forms of vermin out as well. Perhaps this might work for you as well. Put a gate on there and it'll at least keep the "honest" ones out. Sorry to the OP, our tomatoes are just now coming to size but still green (late season here) and I'd hate to have the same issue. Luckily our garden is not visible by anyone unless they're actually in our back yard which isn't exactly likely. |
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goto a craft store and buy some plastic maters or make them from styrophoam balls, tie them to the tree... and let your camera's get them stealing them. gotta bait em in man..... then do what you will with the picture's..maybe get LEO involved and press charges.... me....if they want maters that bad,,maybe go buy a whole freaking mess full, pack thier mail box full of them,i mean pack them full...then make sure you have the enevelope with the pictures taped to teh outside |
Good idea on the wording. Of course you wouldn't actually do it. The technique CAN work. At one point I was experiencing "shrinkage" from my ice chest at band parties. I recycled some beer into a twist top bottle and told my date to pass up the Bud. It was pretty easy to spot the culprit. 
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Now that's funny...I don't care who you are.
And the next day you see an addendum to the sign 'and other fruit have been injected with (insert favorite toxin here)'. What do you do then? This is purely a thought experiment, I assume. |
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My folks had cherry trees when I was growing up and the neighbors were always hopping the fence to steal cherries. The most unassuming adults can turn out to be the most shameless thieves you have ever known. They just figured they were community trees for all to share despite being on private property and behind barb wire fencing. |
Link please... I can't believe some of you guys would advocate setting traps and stuff over some tomatoes. I have to assume it's all in jest. No way I can see someone hurting some dumbass kid over some tomatoes. I can see it being a big deal post SHTF, and it's something to try and take care of right now, but I don't think any method other than a snap shot and the parents dishing out a beat down would be a proper response. Unless you want Johnny Law to rain on your parade. But if the parents getting involved doesn't take care of the situation, depending on where you live,a little rock salt never 
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I wasn't suggesting to poison anyone, I was suggesting something that would cause a nice upset stomach. A few times of that and they would leave the stuff alone, they might not even buy them from the store thinking maybe they developed a reaction to that type of food. Since it's being stolen and you told no one how is that a problem at all, even if they took part of it and had it tested, SO WHAT, can't prove you did it but they would be admitting they stole it and could be prosecuted for that action. |
They start with your tomatoes then move on to your home entertainment system. You have to nip it at the bud. |
| I have a fenced yard, but they are outside my fence (my land) to keep my beagles out. The garden is also not visible unless you are in my or the neighbors yard because it is boxed in by other houses and yards. The neighbor behind me is letting their 13 yr old kid and his pals build a skate/bike ramp/halfpipe or whatever they are called 10 feet from my garden. I also have lost 2 pepper plants from foot traffic that isn't mine. I'm pissed. Maybe next year I'll do box gardens in my driveway or inside the fence or something. I thought about using this pepperball.com/Securities/products.aspx but I don't know about the legality of it. |