|
Post by contender on Jul 22, 2021 10:49:11 GMT -5
After a long day working & such,, I came in about 8 pm. Was just getting in the shower, and a neighbor called,, saying he saw what appeared to be a "camp" kinda hidden but near the road on my property. Well, a dash through the shower,, and back out I went. I went to where he had seen things from the road,, and sure enough when you looked closer,, you could see a tarp. Drove around the other side of my place,,, (up on my gun range,) parked & taking all the necessary precautionary items,, I went downrange,, climbed between (2) pistol bay berms,, and went up & over the hill to where I could see the camp & tarp. I saw a guy sitting there,, facing away from me,, towards the road. I was slipping along,, and as I got closer,, I spoke, LOUDLY,, saying "What the H*** are you doing on my property & building fires?" The guy jumped up, and RAN,, immediately down the bank, and up the road. FAST too! I called the local Police,, and they were pretty quick in responding, (maybe 5 minutes,) but the guy was not to be found. He probably ducked back into nearby woods once out of sight of me.
He'd built several small fires, indicating he'd been there a few days. (6 different spots.) It's been dry enough here,, that it could have EASILY caught the woods on fire. ESPECIALLY since he didn't bother to clear the area around the spots he'd built a fire. I had to haul off his garbage,, took down his tarp, the (2) grungy sleeping bags, a few clothes, and a plain hard hat. (No company or logo.) The cops tried looking for him for a good while,, and I was able to drive back around to the business across the road from where he'd been camping, and watch the area. I did so for almost 2 hours. I also went back out later last night to see if I could see anything. Nada.
I know some people are homeless. I know some people need help.
But I'll be derned if I'll tolerate a squatter, vagrant, or whatever building fires on my property, in dry conditions, & trashing my place. There is going to be a lot more gunfire on the range in the next several days,, even if I have to do so after work etc.
|
|
|
Post by Longhunter1750 on Jul 22, 2021 12:28:48 GMT -5
I'd have burned everything he had, no reason for him to return. Dont mean to sound cold or heartless but I dont tolerate disrespect and I'm sure there are places locally to get help if he truly needs it.
|
|
|
Post by magnumwheelman on Jul 22, 2021 12:37:26 GMT -5
yep... burn restrictions here right now... not sure if you're that dry or not... but don't need someone who doesn't belong on our place starting a big fire...
goes back to that lack of respect thing... they feel entitled & I don't think there is a good answer... other than a well used range...
|
|
rocdoc
.30 Stingray
Posts: 133
|
Post by rocdoc on Jul 22, 2021 16:23:05 GMT -5
Guy I had hauling off junk related a story about an eviction he was hired to clear out. Squatters occupied a house, took the owners 8 months through the courts to boot them out. Hard to believe the audacity of some people, and the protections afforded by the system.
|
|
|
Post by contender on Jul 22, 2021 21:14:28 GMT -5
Well, an update. I had another discussion today with the local LEO's. (Good friends too!) Apparently, from my description, and all, they figure they know exactly who it is. They hadn't seen him since last Friday,, when he was downtown, near the bank, and "according to him" his string broke that held up his pants. They fell, and he bent over to pull up his fallen pants. The ladies at the bank called the cops, & they came, got him, and after a discussion, took him to the store, directly across the street from my property. They know who he is, and said he has some serious mental issues. They advised me to "be careful." Well, if crazy is on my property & doing damage, building a fire etc,, and decides to be aggressive,, well, I'm prepared for him. I told the local LEO's that I'll GLADLY press & follow up on trespass charges. I went back there today & took pics of the places he built fires. I also took the stuff out of my trash cans & took pics.
And I enjoyed sending a bit of a .45 Colt chunks of lead downrange too!
|
|
|
Post by clintsfolly on Jul 23, 2021 9:17:15 GMT -5
The sad part is if he had asked you probably would have let him camp.
|
|
JM
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,416
|
Post by JM on Jul 23, 2021 10:41:16 GMT -5
Might invest in some trail cams.
|
|
|
Post by contender on Jul 23, 2021 10:50:45 GMT -5
I have trail cameras,, all over the range. I plan on moving a few into that area of my property.
|
|
JM
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,416
|
Post by JM on Jul 23, 2021 11:17:44 GMT -5
Wifi security cams have become affordable.
Shame that one must consider these options.
|
|
|
Post by 45MAN on Jul 24, 2021 7:40:55 GMT -5
OUTDOORS SLOBS, IDIOTS AND LITTERERS RUN ACROSS ALL SOCIO ECONOMIC LEVELS. GOT ANY CIGARRETTE BUTTS (FILTERS) LAYING AROUND YOUR PLACE? THEY DON'T GO AWAY, BUT INVITEES, FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ALL "DISPOSE OF THEM" ON YOUR GROUND.
|
|
|
Post by contender on Jul 24, 2021 9:29:28 GMT -5
I agree that slobs/litterers/idiots are all across the socio economic levels. But it's funny you mention cig butts. Not around my house. Only smokers in the family, (2) and they only occasionally visit. And when they do, they use an ash tray, and no butts on the ground. At the end of my driveway, I found a butt months ago. My camera revealed it was my mail delivery person. I had a polite but firm discussion with her about that. Up until them, she had no idea I had a camera there. She got a bit better about my deliveries too. So, if I find a cig butt at my house,, it's unusual. And on my gun range,, most of the guys who do smoke, are respectful & don't put them on the ground. I get very few there too!
That bum that was on my place,, so far,,, hasn't returned. Or at least that I'm aware of. But I did find a dead Bic lighter in the stuff I cleaned up. I guess he used it to build his fires.
Side story; Yesterday evening,, I had to go to my range to get a tool. It being a little after dark,, I went out & checked the road side of things,, for a fire, etc,,, "just in case." Well, in the parking lot of the store, I saw a local druggie,, on his moped, and since the store had closed in the last few minutes,, I wondered what & why he was hanging around. I left,, drove down my road, tuirned around & parked to watch his actions. Well, he came out of the parking lot, came down the highway, turned onto the road where I was parked. (He lives on down that road past me.) After he passed, I headed to the house,, only to find him parked in my home driveway. I slid in behind him, bailing out & demanded to know just what the h*** he was doing. He stuttered & sputtered that his load,, (a piece of rolled up carpet) had shifted & he pulled in there to fix it. He knew me, and identified himself,, and I THEN,, told him; "I didn't recognize you, and I've had problems with someone illegally camping on my place, & I'm a bit touchy. Sorry for scaring you." Well, he apologized, saying he didn't recognize me either,, (I have a new truck) and then proceeded to say he felt bad. He threw up then. Apparently,, I scared him enough to make a REAL impression. He already knows me well enough to know I carry, shoot often, and don't tolerate BS. Keeping guys like that nervous around me is perfectly fine by me. They never know when or where I'll be at,, and might catch them doing wrong stuff.
So,, it seems we are enjoying more than the normal amount of "disturbances" in my area. But yesterday evening,, scaring this guy a bit,, was something I've wanted to do for a while. He has a druggie friend who hasn't been the best around here & I've already warned him of his thievery.
I'm headed to my range for a bit of stuff today, and a guy is coming over to test some of his reloads & do some casual shooting. the more often it happens,, the better. I'm going to put the cameras out there today too.
|
|
|
Post by domino300 on Jul 24, 2021 10:04:43 GMT -5
Funny about the mail carrier. I occasionally find cig butts around my rural mail box out by the road, and came to the conclusion he/she was the source. I haven't contacted them, not sure which one as I've had different carriers. I'm an ex-smoker for 40+ years and we Ex's don't tolerate smokers well. LOL.
|
|
|
Post by foxtrapper on Jul 24, 2021 10:33:04 GMT -5
Squatters, vagrants and bums sounds like the title to a Tom Waits album! Lol
|
|
|
Post by bula on Jul 24, 2021 12:50:58 GMT -5
That'll be the next fake reality TV show.
|
|
|
Post by squawberryman on Jul 24, 2021 14:54:42 GMT -5
I've convinced myself that I don't hate anything because if you hate something that thing controls you. At least that's what I believe however, if I were to hate one thing in this world it would be cigarette butts
|
|