They're up to no good again!

Ravenlost · #1 07/31/07, 10:28 PM

Hubby is steaming and I will be calling the sheriff's dept. to come out in the morning. Our large county-issued garbage can has been rolled across the road and dumped over (it was full) into the swamp across the road. This just makes me even more sure that our two missing mailboxes are in the swamp as well.

Bearfootfarm · #2 07/31/07, 10:31 PM

Hopefully there will be fingerprints on the handle. I hope you havent moved it

Ravenlost · #3 07/31/07, 10:31 PM

Nope, we left it right where it is for the deputy to see in the morning.

Kstornado11 · #4 08/01/07, 04:32 AM

Oh how aggrevating!!! Hope they catch 'em. We have had our mailbox smashed 3 times this past year.

Apparantly some people have no lives.

ceresone · #5 08/01/07, 06:48 AM

You know, there is a game camera thats just right for installing in a tree, --or birdhouse--and only takes pictures on movement. doubtful they would see it, they dont look up cause they're too busy doing mischief. Thats what I want--from the pic's I've seen, they're clear too.

Rocky Fields · #6 08/01/07, 07:15 AM

Ravenlost,

Time for a stakeout. Maybe your husband can hide by mailbox/garbagecans and grab one of them or get photos of pranksters in action. One good photo would put this situation to rest.

RF

Jim S. · #7 08/01/07, 08:24 AM

Having had trouble myself in the past, I'd opt for the surveillance camera rather than a stakeout. The SIX young thugs who got out of the car when I was on stakeout could have been hard for me to handle if they had somehow found out I was behind that bush. Far better to have a remote camera and not be in the vicinity.

In our case, the attacks were politically motivated. We supported candidates that were of the party opposite of the one most of our area supports, and that was the beginning of our troubles.

People who are "different" can have a hard time imposed on them by some intolerant country thugs. I like to think it is a minority who do these things, but they sure can raise a ruckus. There is nothing worse than feeling you are not safe on your own place. Been there.

Beeman · #8 08/01/07, 08:25 AM

They got my mailbox last week. I've contacted the sheriffs dept. for that and other reasons similar to your problems. I have thought about the camera and or a light to spook them. The majority of them are just punks that are scared of confrontation which is why they go bump in the night.

ladybug · #9 08/01/07, 09:46 AM

Harbor freight has a small camera that works really well for around 39.00, my uncle has one because people were messing around his place too

Sorry I hope you catch the little buggers, someone here likes to steal our rolling trash cans and drag them about a mile down the road~leaving them in the road to get hit

We are getting ready to install a camera after numerous things like that, and someone tampering with our vehicles constantly, you'd think they would leave us alone but since we gave away our pit bull(she didnt get along with the goats) they have been working overtime

Ravenlost · #10 08/01/07, 10:41 AM

I borrowed my BIL's deer camera and hubby is setting it up as I type.

Bearfootfarm · #11 08/01/07, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

I borrowed my BIL's deer camera and hubby is setting it up as I type.

If used after dark, it will flash and give away its location. Then they would just take it also. If possible, use a ladder to mount it up high where they cant get to it

texican · #12 08/01/07, 11:32 AM

My uncle was having troubles with some in/outlaws... and couldn't wait for me to help set up his game camera... his 700$ game camera... they cut his lock, AND took his camera... I wanted him to put up a 30$ flash camera, with the 700$ job off hidden in the fenceline, but he couldn't wait... 700$ hurts if you're a 100% farmer/rancher.

Ravenlost · #13 08/01/07, 11:33 AM

We're only using it during the day. It will be taken down at night. All the problems we've had have occurred during midday...when the parents are at work!

Ravenlost · #14 08/01/07, 01:06 PM

Sheriff's Deputy is here right now. I hope we can finally put a stop to this petty vandalism.

saramark · #15 08/01/07, 05:19 PM

I saw an interesting post somewhere on HT about getting a regular sized box, then putting that inside one of those giant boxes. You then put concrete all around the smaller box, and plant the whole thing in the ground a few feet down and anchored in concrete. Hitting that box would land someone out of the car, in the hospital most likely. That would be worth a picture.

mark

MaKettle · #16 08/01/07, 05:23 PM

Our area had a problem with high school kids stealing mailboxes--esp the pretty ones, or bashing them, or running over the post. To the kids it is hilareous fun, esp after a few beers. I hope the sheriff can get it stopped. I'm so sorry for your aggrvation.

Ravenlost · #17 08/01/07, 05:37 PM

They sent the captain out today. He agrees that it is probably the kids at the end of the road. They're about 11-14 years old. Photos were taken and if we get them on camera they will have the sheriff's department knocking on the door. Appropriate punishment will be given based on their ages.

Captain said the last time they caught punks smashing mailboxes they (20-years-old) got three months garbage collection duty.

saramark · #18 08/01/07, 05:42 PM

It is a federal offense. I think they take it way too easy on people nowadays. I had my run ins with police when I was in high school and just after school. I got off easy and the community service and 10 days in jail didn't slow me down a bit. I was stupid, immature, and needed my butt kicked. If they would send a kid to JAIL for 3 months and 500 hours community service, along with a hefty fine, things would change. I know lots of people who got off too easy, and after their stupid lawless years, wished they had been punished more harshly.

mark

Ravenlost · #19 08/01/07, 08:24 PM

Well, I really don't want these middle school aged kids sent to jail, but I definitely want them to pay for all the trouble and expense they've put us through! We haven't had mail delivery in a month now because we can't keep a box up (and the cost of the two boxes they've taken).

They dumped our garbage can over and hubby found it when he got home from work. So, after a 10 hour workday he was out in the dark picking up garbage. Then they go and roll the can into the swamp! Tonight when he gets home from work he has to drag it out of the swamp (sure hope he doesn't step on a water moccasin!) because the garbage truck runs early in the morning.

I want these kids to PAY us back in cash and sweat as that's what they have cost us. Not to mention the frustration and stress they've caused.

MWG · #20 08/02/07, 12:57 AM

Why not pay some other high school student to sit in the trash can? Give them $25 bucks or something like that. When the punks start moving the trash can have the student you are paying jump out with a shotgun (without shells) and scare the beejeezus out of them.

"NEXT TIME IT WILL BE LOADED PUNKS!"

Or you could rig it up with 1700 firecrackers that would go off when the trash can is lifted.

Or you could get something really nasty and fill the trashcan up with it. Take some blackpowder along with a pressure switch on the bottom of the can that would blow everything out of the can and onto them... got any extra manure?

Don't get mad, get even!