Trespassers - WTH do I do?

[Bo Hunter]

This is kind of an odd situation/scenerio, but I need some advice. This is real life, and I'm getting pretty tired of it.

I date a girl who has 100 acres of land in rural NY state. The area isn't too depressed, but the road she lives on is loaded with what I call "mutts". Scumbags. No job, or bad job, nasty houses, white trash. I hunt the property and stay with her occasionally.

Preface to the story.
Last year, we had a $400 game camera (motion activated camera) stolen from the center of the property. We know who did it, but couldn't prove it. The camera actually belonged to my buddy who is an NYS Trooper. Needless to say, he was ******! Fortunately, he's level headed enough to not get revenge as he could lose his job if he gave the people some special attention. You just can't be that way as a cop - at least not a State Trooper here. They are held pretty accountable for their actions. He patrolled the area heavily for weeks after that, but didn't harass anyone. He pulled over a couple people for the usual - no license plate lamp, etc. You know, that old gag... Never wrote any tickets or anything though.

Even after being told NOT to go on the property BY the state police (they were riding horses), they proceeded to tresspass yet again about a week later. Most of them don't work, so they do it during the day when they expect everyone to be at work. My girlfriend happened to be home.... She couldn't ID the riders as they were far from the house (again, we know who it is but, you know how it is)....

So, yesterday, her 6 year old son is playing outside, and she's standing at the front door talking to the neighbor on the phone, when about 1/2 way down the 120 yard driveway, a guy suddenly walks out of the woods and heads towards the road. Apparently there was a van parked on the other side of the treeline and my girlfriend couldn't see it. Fortunately, her neighbor, whom she was on the phone with could. She ID'd it, and we're on the look out.

Basically, my girlfriends property is on a south facing slope and has some thick areas of pine trees and brush. It also happens to be that time of year, that you plant that stuff that you harvest in the fall, dry out the buds, and smoke them.

While I could somewhat care less about the pot growing, the concern I have is with the tresspassing and their general presence there. It was very unnerving for her to have a guy come strolling out of the woods. I'm growing tired of it and getting very aggrivated. These people have no respect for others' property.

What on earth can I do to get the point across to these people? Frankly, the illogical irritated side of me would like to catch them in the woods and beat the hell out of them. I think its the only way to get through to these brain dead morons. But, then I'd be the aggressor and law breaker at that point. My second choice would be to shoot them with 12 gauge bean bags, or shotshells reloaded with rock salt. Again, not a realistic alternative. I'm trying to get hired by the NYSP, and don't need trouble. Nor does my personality realistically lend me to doing things like that anyway.

What the hell can I do to these people? How can I keep them at bay to have them arrested. I don't think its legal, or safe to hold them at gunpoint for police to arrive. Plus, they would probably just run anyway. I could always watch for the car, and cut the valve stems off with side cutters. Probably considered vandalism though.

Bare in mind, I don't want to infuriate these scumbags that have nothing to lose so that they show up at 1am some night for revenge....

Any ideas or help would be appreciated.

The most obvious action I'm going to take is to locate their growing areas, let them get nice and tall and flourishing, then take a gigantic gas weed eater and chainsaw up there and level the entire area about 3 weeks before harvest time (early october)....

Please help....

[dolanp]

A fence if it can be afforded.

I don't know how NY law works but here in Texas you can mark the trees to indicate to anyone coming nearby that they will be trespassing when they cross that boundary. Also big NO TRESPASSING signs all around where they are entering your property might get their attention. I'd just call the cops every time you see them.

If you are saying that they are planting marijuana on your property then you might call up the DEA or some drug task force and let them know what's going on.

[Bo Hunter]

The problem with calling the cops is response time. These guys will be long gone by the time any cop gets there. The cops will just get annoyed...

These are small time growers for their own use. I doubt DEA will want anything to do with it, but I will contact the proper authorities once I confirm thats actually what they are doing...

Posted signs here are just a waste of money. A fence is not a viable option...

[n3twrkm4n]

Just skimming your article it makes me ****** thinking about how inconsiderate others are... I would recommend perhaps surveilance, but sneakier surveilance like up the tree... Or even taking pictures of them in the act which would be cool.. you could practice military sniper tactics, get your ghili suit on and head out!

Make sure your property is posted properly... I think one posted sign every 600'... I always like to keep more than that per less feet than 600...

I'm not sure on the legalities but I could certainly recommend boards where they park with nails to disable their vehicle... at least make it obvious that they were there... and if you want to have real fun go to a paintball supplier and get a claymore paintball mine which will spray them with paint. I think most of them are refiliable so make sure you get some good non-removeable paint!

It's funny the way trespassing goes especially in the country, perhaps try contacting ENCON, they are more at home in the woods than troopers and they deal with hunters and woodsmen all the time and might be more familiar with the area than a state trooper. ENCON is very nice, I know a few of the officers myself, they are a 'skiddish' bunch (usually have their hand on their gun) but you would be too if you dealt with crazy people with guns in the woods.

You know where they live? Call the police and tell them you saw them with a pot plant at least one or two in their house and have seen them selling it around your property to others... Always good for some fun.

EVIDENCE is what you need, unfortunately it could be hard or easy to get depending on how stupid these people are. I know what your talking about though, I live upstate rural NY and they have some interesting bunches around. The kind with 50 outdoor cats, 3 goats and two lesbians living in the same house with 5 children... (You think I'm joking! HAH! Nope!)

Good luck, be safe, and keep your head about you, think logically and don't stoop to their level, as someone's quote said one time or another: "Don't argue with a stupid person, they will only drag you down to their level and beat you with experience"

[shield20]

Make a positive ID and then go in and sign a complaint. Take pictures of vehicles, persons etc. for evidence.

Trespass per NYS Penal 140.05 is a Violation.

The perp has to "knowingly" be on private land - so you will need to put up signs to avoid their arguments to the contrary.

[Bo Hunter]

Good advice guys. I was thinking of some of those X-10 Wireless in a tree. I could use my portable treestand to put them up. Might need to get creative with the electric wires, but it could be done....

I'm going to properly post the land per the NYS law to cover my butt. (Name address etc). A few of them have had direct warnings from the NYSP to stay off the property. That worked for about a week. Gotta get that WEED! I might even invest in some spy equipment to catch these scumbags....

I have an old video camera I could construct a motion activated setup - its even got night vision. Those paintball claymores sound AWESOME! HAHAH! Perhaps I could mix in a little Doe Urine or Skunk **** too... Hopefully I don't accidentally set one off... :-)

I guess its the total disregard for others property that really pisses me off. Just the principle behind the whole thing.

Oh, I'm good friends with a DEC officer as well. He's aware of the situation, but its not something you can approach actively as word will get around. I want it kept quiet as not only do I want them to quit coming on the property, I want them arrested and prosecuted as well...

Keep the advice coming! Anyone know of any good surveylance equipment?

[hkOrion]

Go in and pull their plants. What are they going to do - call the cops? You could tail them in there one afternoon, see where their planting and then come in and clean it up. If they ask - what do you know...

[ATW525]

I'm with hkOrion... if it's about pot, then destroy thier plants. If they replant them, destroy them again. Eventually they'll plant somewhere else.

[Twycross]

+1 on destroying the plants, but I would do it in a less obvious way. You mentioned that these guys have nothing to lose by going after you. Maybe a herbicide?

I like the ideas of paintball claymores, and sniper photography. How 'bout hidden electric fences?

Perhaps I could mix in a little Doe Urine or Skunk **** too...

LOL!!!

[ATW525]

The question is whether they'd notice the difference if they were covered in doe urine and skunk ****....

[jeff_troop]

set some traps and let them get their ankles crushed...

[Twycross]

The question is whether they'd notice the difference if they were covered in doe urine and skunk ****....

Good point. They might view it as a sort of free cologne.

[boogeyman]

that's a pretty bold statement to say that you believe that they are in there with the intent of cultivating marijuana. if you are actually serious about this then your first step has to be to find the plants. if you are only dealing with small time 25 plants or less, i'd suggest taking a photograph and immediately dialing your local drug task force. if you are dealing with something larger than say 25-50 plants, remove your gf and her children to a safe area and immediately contact the nearest DEA branch. once you get involved with actual "growers" you and your significant others are at a terrible risk of being hurt/killed/ or whatever their twisted little minds can come up with when they discover you know what's up. most likely they will be small time growers (if they even are that) for it would be a really stupid move by any account to run an actual farm on that small of a piece of private property. regardless, best of luck with this and remember to stay safe.

[bclark1]

find the plants and poison them. i'm still working on a way of crossbreeding pot and oleander, good way to flush some dirtbags.

no honestly you're between a rock and a hard place unless you have some kind of citizen's arrest power. what ever happened to "trespassers will be shot"

actually thinking about it, we've got some fruitcakes near my family's land out in the boonies too. i think it sends a good message that every time i'm up there i go and rattle off 500 shots in easy earshot. maybe if you're suspicious people are out there, go out for some target practice (seriously.) make sure you're not firing at them, but also make sure that they can hear that you're firing. always a good time to practice some quick-succession shooting and reloading if you've got pistols or ARs.

[Bo Hunter]

Boogeyman,
For some reason I'm not really scared of these guys as bad drug dealer types. I don't view them as "big-time" growers or business people. Perhaps they are, and I'm naive. However, this isn't the first time its happened on this property. People have been busted in the past. Must be the soil? Anyway. The areas I found last year that I suspected the plants had been were not very large. Room for maybe 5-10 plants in a couple locations. Typically they are locals that sneak on, plant a few, and sneak them off so they don't get caught with it on their OWN land....

The GF is gonna get a lesson in firearm operation, but I'd rather she just lock herself in her room if bad people were to come (with the gun of course).... I don't need an overzealous new firearm operator chasing someone down the driveway with a shotgun.... Could be the insurance salesman...

I'm going to find the vehicle and have the plate run, just to be positive they are locals. Its not like there are large maroon Econoline vans driving around everywhere. Should be easy to find.

The wierd thing was - the guy didn't seem to be "stealthy" at all. He walked right into the driveway in plain view of the house. He was wearing shorts (I hate walking in tall grass with shorts, not to mention the chance of getting ticks), and a shirt with the sleeves cutoff...

I'm going to find that guy or at least find the vehicle.

I'm going on a plant hunting mission today toting my 870...

[CobrayCommando]

Tell us how that works out!

[hso]

Find the patch or patchs and lace them with deer cane and doe scent so that bambi and friends can harvest for you. Check them from time to time and then the first evidence that the deer are munching away call the wildlife management folks and report that you think that there are poachers coming on the property. Right on the heels of that call your buddy with the State Police and tell him you've found pot patchs on the property. This may result in a combined effort with the drug taskforce and the wildlife folks working together to put these guys behind bars and have their property siezed.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Get a Bush Hog and go to town----post the hell out of the place.

A high voltage--low amp---electric fence----to keep your "livestock" in???

Recall one sign south of here: Tresspassers will be shot----Survivors will be shot again.

[boogeyman]

lol. that sign is the first thing someone sees when they walk in my gate!

it actually reads

No Tresspassing
violators
will be
shot.
Survivors
will be shot
again.
you can get it at any
good novelty shop.

Bo Hunter,

the 870 is perfect for plant hunting! in all seriousness, you should put a target up next to the plants (if you find any) and proceed to shoot a nice group on it. leave it up for awhile next to a sign that says,
THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON DRUGS. Should be a stern enough message to get through to any hippie/pot head/nader loving tresspasser who's head is too clogged with THC to get any other message. let us know how it turns out. good luck.

-adam

[Trip20]

Boogeyman had the best advice so far (post #13, that is).

I was waiting for someone to throw in a little common sense between all the sniper photography and claymore paint mines.

This probably isn't the best time for mall-ninja tactics...

Even hill-billy morons can get angry and kill you for screwing with their dope regardless of how many plants you may think it takes for one grower to be more feared than another.

Be safe, I feel bad you and yours must deal with such scum.

[Bo Hunter]

This probably isn't the best time for mall-ninja tactics...

But mall-ninja tactics are so fun to talk about though! Just today I've gotten to research paint-ball claymore mines, and wireless infrared cameras!

In reality though, the first thing I did was contact the State Police and gave descriptions. My buddy is a Trooper and I'm realistic. I don't expect them to look for the guy, let alone find him.

In addition, while I was out looking for the van, I also spotted a Sheriff. I let him know about the situation, the location of the residence, as well as the description of the van and asked him to keep an eye out.

They are going to start sending occassional patrols out on the road.

I am seriously going out and looking for the plants today, and I'm seriously taking my 870 - more to shoot a feral dog or woodchuck than a pot grower, but if I DO run into someone in the woods, they'll be less apt to get porky if I'm holding a black synthetic shotgun...

IF I find plants, I will take some pictures, and contact the proper authorities and get the sting setup. I'm not going to call and say "People are planting pot on the land!" if I don't have proof.

Now - back to the paintball claymore mines, novelty signs, booby traps and such!

[Davis]

I'm a Consulting Forester and let me say, first, that you can't stop tresspassing all by yourself without real trouble. It is like getting grass not to grow too high. You'll find you have to mow. These dirtbags will burn your woods, burn your house, do many thing to you (girlfriend) and you both have it all to lose and they have very little. Now, the very best way to stop tresspassing is to lease the land for hunting. I manage 180,000 acres of land in southern Mississippi and the Florida Parishes of Louisiana and hunting clubs are the absolute best way to cut it out. Plus, a hunting club can be required to carry liability insurance which protects the landowner as well, because someone is going to hunt the land as well. Also, the hunting lease can be done in such a way as to pay the taxes on the land, and good hunting clubs do an excellent job of keeping up the roads, firelanes, etc. Poaching and tresspassing come with owning land. A fence will do absolutely nothing to keep them out, posted signs won't either (in Mississippi, all land is posted, whether a sign is out or not). If you don't want a hunting club, that's fine. Keep in mind that the folks you will be dealing with can be the worst scum in the world. Take it from me, I have had it all happen, from having guns pulled on me, to being shot at, you name it. I've had clients who've been burned, literally, and have had their gates stolen, their fences cut, the whole gambit.

Now, before anyone opines about troubles they have had with hunting clubs, there are bad ones, and I have all sorts of troubles with clubs taking my locks of gates, getting mad at me when I try to work during hunting season, etc. But, they do the best job at keeping poachers and tresspassers off your property while at the same time reducing the landowner's liability.

Davis

[tINY]

The solution is easy. Call your senator and get her to legalize cannibus. Then there is no reason for hippies to use someone elses land to grow herbs.

I can't imagine that you'd have violence trouble with a few hippies. But, my experience is on the west coast....

There is no respect for property because there aren't many property rights left. You have to get permission to add a deck onto your house and you can be stopped from developing your own land because it ruins someones view.

Other than bothering you, there really isn't much to worry about. The worst damage they are likely to do is trampling a path to their gardens. Besides, If you can't be bothered to post the property, you don't have much of a leg to stand on in my estimation.



-tINY

[Rojoe67]

Wrong answer my west coaster friend. This guy wanted information on how to protect his lady friends property not be walked on. Private land in my area means just that. We owners of land pay taxes and do our part to keep our land in shape to help nature. To rock back on our heels and say - what the heck these fella's just need a place to grow their pot.......I say bull*hit to that. They should get a job and buy a parcel and grow the unlawful crop on their own land.

What I did is posted the heck out of my place.....strung a field wire about 3' high and made it very clear to anyone (blind included) they were entering a posted and private parcel. Next I got with the few good guy neighbors I have and formed a country neighborhood sorta watch. We watch each other's land and each other. We share an evening meal now and again and talk about who is on the list. We exchange BOL names, vehicles, plate #'s and anything important. We also got the local law involved and made friends with them and told them to stop by any day or night for a cup of coffee. It started working as soon as we got off our butts and did it. We always tried to keep from making contact with the idiots for a number of safety reasons. If we do, we try to double the number and make ourselves known as not taking this any longer. If you have concealed weapons permits it might be very wise to use your right and carry as often as you can. Remember if these woodticks are up to growing pot they might be up to defending the work they put into it too... I would contact local police and ask them about getting ATF - Feds involved. The Feds have a lot more budget to chase jack ass pot growers than the locals can spend on this task. The locals have a huge amount of enforcement activities besides this type of issue. I should also warn you to walk careful and look for any traps or anything out of place. Some of these good ole pot smoker farmer types have strung nets, rigged bombs and guns. I would also suggest thinking about a guard dog or two. A lot of work goes into this but if you and your lady have time you get your moneys worth over and over again..... If you both are very wealthy? you could put up a fence...........lots of coin........and the average woodtick will either jump it, cut holes in it, knock it down and so on.... I see it a waste of money in all honesty.....

When your out (in numbers or not) always carry a cell phone, small pad of paper and pen, camera and if you can a concealed pistol or revolver.

Just a few ideas from someone whom was in similar shoes.......but don't have any problems now......... Good luck and becareful....don't turn your back on anyone you don't know well and trust your life too........

[delta58]

Round up for the weed and covert video surveillence. Watch out for booby traps though if they suspect you are going in there.