You could try this. Get a large dog crate/cage. You can find them on Craigslist for around $40. It doesn't need to be in good shape.

 

Store the firewood in this cage and use a chain and Masterlock to lock it up.

 

That way they'd have to steal the entire dog crate full of wood in order to take anything.

 

This would be pretty heavy to steal, and surely they would not steal something so large. If it does go missing, call the police and it should be pretty easy to locate.

 

Here's one, for example:

 

http://lexington.craigslist.org/hsh/1573146323.html

 

 

Just make sure you secure the front and back with locks and your problem should be solved.

 

Do they make them about 3 times the size of that? This isn't a little bit of wood i'm talking about. Its a full truck load at about 60-100 bucks a pop when I have to pay for it.

Would a strategically placed note in the stack saying somthing along the lines of, "Enjoy the wood, please feel free to replace what you've taken" do any good, do you think?

 

My guess is no; anyone low enough to steal someone's firewood would probably not be put off; maybe the "stinky wood" idea is better.

Put her enough wood in doors (or bring some everyday) to last 3-4 days. Enough to make sure her neighbors are out of wood. After that, bring a truck load for out doors. Hire a P.I. (couple of hundred) to stake out and take pics. You'll have a liscensed person and pics to prosecute.

Shoot em. j/k

 

I think I'd go back to the cops - maybe even ask someone who has a connection to a cop. Sounds like you talked to one who didn't want to put in the extra effort. There are some out there that will... especially if there are footprints in the snow. You might even get THEM to set up some cameras.

Motion camera's do work at night if you get the right one, my father in law uses one pretty consistently to watch the deer he throws apples and corn out for at night.

Too bad you can't use one of those exploding ink packets like they put in bags of money (at least they do in the movies).

Will these motions cameras pick up at night?

 

There are two types that take pictures at night. One uses a regular flash bulb but as soon as it flashes the intruder knows where it came from and will likely steal the camera knowing he is busted. The other uses infared flash and is much harder to detect but it is expensive,starting at around $200.00. We had trouble with neighbors stealing from our barn,I told them about our trail cameras that would get there picture if they continued. That was 2 years ago and we have not had any more trespassing of any kind.

Get you a big dog, and chain him right beside the wood pile.

Do they make them about 3 times the size of that? This isn't a little bit of wood i'm talking about. Its a full truck load at about 60-100 bucks a pop when I have to pay for it.

 

Dog crates? Yes, they do make some bigger ones, but not as big as you need from the sound of it.

 

The picture below is what you really need, but I can't find a link to one that you can actually buy.

Rub some poo all over the top of all the wood. Not the wood you will use but just on top of the pile. I would consider knocking on their door and asking them to stop.

I'd sit on the roof all night with a paintball gun myself.

I have a bit of a problem going on. My mother only heats her house with wood, wood that I either have to cut split stack or buy. Well, on average every two or three weeks I have to get her another truck load.

 

Lately those two to three weeks have turned into about 5 or 6 days.

 

Not a big deal, its cold right?

 

Well it wouldn't be a problem if her neighbors didn't heat with wood also. However, they never, EVER, have a stack of wood but seem to always have a fire. My mother didn't have wood for four days, the neighbors didn't have a fire for 4 days.

 

We have no solid evidence, but as my mother put it she has "rigged the wood pile" the last few days. The wood stays tarped and knowing her I know she did something crazy to test it. Well she got home the last two days and it has been messed up each day and there were foot steps on the back side when it snowed.

 

My question for BGP is.. What should I do?

 

She called the cops but there is nothing they can do without some hard evidence. Since I have no solid evidence I'm at a loss.

 

Want me to hang out at your Mom's? I have a taser! :D

Put the wood in a garage if possible, worse comes to worse, but the wood inside.

Put the wood in a garage if possible, worse comes to worse, but the wood inside.

 

 

I've never met you, but for some reason I don't picture this as being your answer to the problem if it were happening to you. :lol:

Drill holes in the firewood and stuff them with firecrackers and bottle rockets.