Part-time neighbor trouble, stealing signs

[Common Tator]

We have our apple orchard open for You Pick apples now, and we have a big problem. Our signs are being stolen.

Our place is very remote. Without the signs, people don't even know we are there, We aren't visible from the highway. Our ranch is 2.2 miles from the highway down a winding dirt road with many other roads leading from it. I have signs at the highway to get traffic onto our road, and small arrows along the dirt road to direct them to our place.

Our ranch is surrounded by National Forest, and there are FS lease land cabins along the road to our place. We are the only private land owners on that road. Some of the cabin owners are outraged that our You Pick operation has increased traffic on the (public) road, and therefore caused their cabins to be at increased risk of being broken into. None of the cabin owners has said a word to us, but they have complained to each other and have complained bitterly to the Forest Service and the sheriff. The Forest ranger has told them that the best way to deter theft is to visit their cabins once in a while. She also told them which department of the FS to talk to for permission to gate their driveways.

Last year I had to replace sandwich board signs that were stolen within an hour of being put up. Some were stolen outright, and another one was thrown a steep embankment. I made new signs, and bought chain and padlocks to secure them to trees.

Friday, three of the arrows on the road disappeared, and the large sandwich board sign on the highway was hanging over the embankment from it's chain. Some of my other arrows were pointing the wrong way.

I really want to get a decent game camera, and catch the thief in the act. It will have to come from the proceeds of apple sales.

I had tried to reach out to the cabin owners before opening for the season. The ones I have met, for the most part seem like decent enough folks. One lady with a cabin near our gate maintains an email list for the cabins in the tract. I sent her a newsy letter to send out to the cabin owners. I gave the times and dates we were going to be open. I offered the cabin owners a discount on apples. I talked a little about the history of our ranch and explained that some of the proceeds would go to fixing up and preserving the pioneer cabin and other outbuildings at our ranch, probably the oldest structures in the area, and I included a copy of this 1920 photo of our place.


I don't know what more I can do to appease these folks. Can you offer any suggestions?

[fantasymaker]

Do you own the places where you put your signs and arrows?
If not maybe the land owners dont like them there?

[indianheadranch]

put you up one of them game cameras

[Common Tator]

Originally Posted by fantasymaker

Do you own the places where you put your signs and arrows?
If not maybe the land owners dont like them there?

The signs and arrows are in the National Forest, and I have their permission to put up signs. I have permission from Cal Trans for the sandwich board signs along the highway.

The cabin owners only own their cabins, but not the land they sit on. They lease the land. The Forest Service has many restrictions on their use. For example, they cannot live in their cabins. Most of the cabins are seldom visited by their owners. Most are empty for months at a time, some for years at a time. The only thing that seems to interest these folks in their cabins is when we open to the public.

[wyld thang]

All I can say is that I can understand the concern your neighbors have over the extra traffic, I know if I did that I would get the same thing--people just do not like strangers passing through, they do keep track of who doesn't belong/strangers because usually that does mean trouble at some point.

What about selling your apples along the highway or in town--if people want more you can hand out a flyer detailed map so they can find your u-pick. I know around here the more remote you-picks are local secrets, the "public" ones are right off the highway.

Are the signs on trees on your trees on your property? otherwise I can't see how you can expect your signs to stay up on other peoples/gov property(or think you have the right to padlock your signs on other people's trees without permission--YOU are tresspassing I think, could get into trouble over that).

PS< I wrote that before seeing other people's replies and seeing you have permission.

[eurycea12]

Invest in a couple of good game cameras.

You have done more than enough to reach out to your neighbors. Of course, I am only getting your side of the story.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by indianheadranch

put you up one of them game cameras

This way the sheriff can recognize them,and the judge too if necessary,but I don't think the judge will be needed.

[fantasymaker]

You might want to explain to them that U-pick customers are the kind of folks that are willing to work for things , not the kind that are so lazy they steel stuff.
But in truth it sounds more like someone local. Things seem to happen to fast and to often to be someone that only visits a cabin once in a few months.
You know what works almost as good as a game camera? A bell and a good book. simply put a bell or bunch of cans on the sign hit most frequently and settle back in the woods with a good book for a few hours.

[Common Tator]

Originally Posted by wyld thang

What about selling your apples along the highway or in town--if people want more you can hand out a flyer detailed map so they can find your u-pick. I know around here the more remote you-picks are local secrets, the "public" ones are right off the highway.

We tried picking and selling our apples for the first few years, but we can't possibly pick all of those apples alone. We refuse to hire illegals. That puts us at a disadvantage to all of the other apple growers in Southern California. DH is nearly 60 now and works 50-60 hours per week at his job, and I have a severe case of degenerative disk disease and have already had two surgeries. I can't do the picking.

We can't sell on the highway. We looked into that.

I had wanted to do You Pick because that is the only way to make a profit. In past years, we had buyers who agreed to a price. We paid the pickers and delivered the apples, which they accepted and took possession of, then reneged on the purchase price. I will never go that route again. The last year we did it, we were paid only our costs of getting the apples picked. If I can't do you-pick, we can't sell our apples.

We do have a map and directions on our website. www.stetsoncreekranch.com

[indianheadranch]

You can also write on the bottom of the sign in small print,
Thanks for your picture you are the third one this week caught on camera for stealing this sign, you will be notified accordingly.

[Wis Bang]

I own a cabin on PA State Forest land lease w/ similar restrictions. We do have problems w/ breakins and have done our best to secure our place. Your description of sandwich boards disapearing within one hour suggests a local person, perhaps someome paid to check on cabins or just someone disturbed/jealous of your situation.

I recomend game cameras w/ infrared flash [can't see it!] secured high enough to make it hard to steal.

Perhaps investing in a couple cans of the paint contractors and utility marking people use that spray [upside down] orange paint that degrades could back up your arrows?

Are there any nearby 'rest' stops and/or information/tourist centers w/ racks of phamphlets for the local tourist destinations? You may be able to develope an affordable [home printed] flyer w/ map to place at such locations.

[Sawmill Jim]

Turn a bunch of them into cider an dried apples ???

[Common Tator]

Originally Posted by eurycea12

Invest in a couple of good game cameras.

You have done more than enough to reach out to your neighbors. Of course, I am only getting your side of the story.

I would love to hear their side of the story. So far they haven't been man enough or woman enough to talk to me about it.

[Common Tator]

The comment about it being someone local because of the sign being stolen within an hour of being placed there, may be true, but both years, I have notified the cabin owners of the days and hours we will be open. That information is also on one of the sandwich board signs and on our website. One of the cabin owners could have come up there with the sole purpose of stealing signs that they knew would be there.

[Wis Bang]

Originally Posted by Common Tator

The comment about it being someone local because of the sign being stolen within an hour of being placed there, may be true, but both years, I have notified the cabin owners of the days and hours we will be open. That information is also on one of the sandwich board signs and on our website. One of the cabin owners could have come up there with the sole purpose of stealing signs that they knew would be there.

That is possible but it means someone really has a major issue with this situation. That is even more reason for the infrared flash on the game camera.

I'd place maps on every local bullitin board I could find.

[Common Tator]

I just bit the bullet and bought an infrared digital game camera on ebay. I do aim to catch them!

[radiofish]

Could it be the tresspassers, reckless 4 wheeler drivers, and motorcyclists that you have had problems with in the past on your property?

Like the one who tried to run you over at your gate next to your vehicle, as you had previously posted???

[coup]

you might put on the main road sign follow the yellow arrows and paint the road where they turn......you might put some sticky nasty smelling stuff on the signs-fresh paint...you might put sticky stinky stuff on the ground so they would have to step on it to get the sign. might hide with a video camera and tape them.......keep a list of all apple pickers and call or email next year reminding them you are open..........

[indianheadranch]

Originally Posted by Common Tator

I just bit the bullet and bought an infrared digital game camera on ebay. I do aim to catch them!

Read the directions carefully and post it in a non conspicuous place, hate to see you lose sign and camera both.

[fordy]

..................Build the framework out of light weight angle iron , then run a piece of 1 inch wide , flat strip iron that is square and will hold the sign against and inside the angle iron securley. Now , drill 4 holes , each one 1\2 inch in diameter in each corner of the steel framework . Purchase some 1\2 inch pins with holes where you can put a lock thru the end of each pin .......you can also thread the ends of these pins such that you can use a 3\4 inch nut and tighten it down so the sign won't move in the framework .
..................Now , they'll have to steal the whole sign and post ! , fordy