Trespassing + theft issue

[David P]

Update: I called the MSP office yesterday and learned that the Trooper who had been handling (or not handling, as it may be) our case is no longer working there. I left a v-mail for the new Trooper and am awaiting his return call. More info. when I get it....

 

[jinman]

Update: I called the MSP office yesterday and learned that the Trooper who had been handling (or not handling, as it may be) our case is no longer working there. I left a v-mail for the new Trooper and am awaiting his return call. More info. when I get it....

Are you losing any weight from all this run-around? Sheesh! When I heard that the former deputy left a business card on the door, I just shook my head. Isn't that what real estate salesmen do? It's clear to me that they don't want to be bothered with your petty theft issue. You aren't getting help, you're getting a hand-off.

 

[David P]

Are you losing any weight from all this run-around? Sheesh! When I heard that the former deputy left a business card on the door, I just shook my head. Isn't that what real estate salesmen do? It's clear to me that they don't want to be bothered with your petty theft issue. You aren't getting help, you're getting a hand-off.

Amen, jinman, amen. This has been definitely a frustrating experience. I know this isn't a so-called "big fish" sort of case but I really gave them the case on a platter. The pics are incredible. I provided them with pictures of the no-trespassing sign at the only ingress point, pictures of the suspects standing in front of my electric fence and CLEARLY looking for a way in, a picture of them as they were precisely underneat the fence and numerous pics of them picking/stealing our berries. Photo also shows them leaving the area with faces very clearly visible. I blew all pics up to 8 1/2" x 11" in full color. I magnified the pic of them walking away w/berries in tow.

I remain hopeful...

 

[Smallplot]

It reminds me of my father in law telling me about a past neighbor stealing sweet corn from another neighbor for years. One year the farmer decided to try their hand at planting ag corn and for some reason the neighbor decided to steal it also thinking it was sweet corn. Clearly ag corn today doesn't look anything like sweet corn but it was the 70's when it happened. I don't know the full story but they said the mother in law left by ambulance due to stomach issues.

There are plenty of people who eat field corn instead of sweet corn. We used to do it all the time. Just have to get it picked at the right stage and know how to cook it. It is basically the same thing just different ratios of sugar in the kernels. The raccoons kept getting our sweet corn so we just went to any of our acres of planted corn and picked what we needed.

Don't do something foolish to catch someone like lie, that makes you just as bad as the other person in my opinion.

 

[Smallplot]

Amen, jinman, amen. This has been definitely a frustrating experience. I know this isn't a so-called "big fish" sort of case but I really gave them the case on a platter. The pics are incredible. I provided them with pictures of the no-trespassing sign at the only ingress point, pictures of the suspects standing in front of my electric fence and CLEARLY looking for a way in, a picture of them as they were precisely underneat the fence and numerous pics of them picking/stealing our berries. Photo also shows them leaving the area with faces very clearly visible. I blew all pics up to 8 1/2" x 11" in full color. I magnified the pic of them walking away w/berries in tow.

I remain hopeful...

I admit I have not read every page of this but I have to ask, Do you know who the people in the pictures are, Their names and where they are from? Coming from a LEO background, just saying pictures are good if someone knows who they are. If no one knows them then it will take a long while trying to run down leads on who they may be.

 

[David P]

I admit I have not read every page of this but I have to ask, Do you know who the people in the pictures are, Their names and where they are from? Coming from a LEO background, just saying pictures are good if someone knows who they are. If no one knows them then it will take a long while trying to run down leads on who they may be.

Yes, I provided the names & address of the suspects to the MSP. My wife had a conversation with the woman in one of the pictures prior to her being caught on camera..... a second time. (The first pic is a movie clip that shows her entering the property with a bucket. Unfortunately, the camera didn't catch her leaving which prompted me to purchase a second camera and mount it in a different location).

 

[NevadaMOGuy]

Man, that is frustrating about the lack of support from your law guys.

I take it that your camera is infared and can take pictures without the guys knowing they are being watched.

How about going the opposite route and get a cheap motion camera like the Tasco, from walmart?
That camera just uses a flash so every time it take a pic they will know.

Tasco 3MP Game Camera, Black - Walmart.com

 

[dmccarty]

Check the law in your state....

Call up the local DA, explain the evidence and get the DA's opinion.

In NC a citizen can present evidence to the local magistrate. The magistrate can create an arrest warrant if they think there is PC for arrest. Given you have photo evidence of the theft, trespassing, the people committing the crime, and you know their names, I would expect an NC magistrate to type up the arrest warrant. But you never know what a magistrate will do.

Later,
Dan

 

[MarkV]

Check the law in your state....

Call up the local DA, explain the evidence and get the DA's opinion.

In NC a citizen can present evidence to the local magistrate. The magistrate can create an arrest warrant if they think there is PC for arrest. Given you have photo evidence of the theft, trespassing, the people committing the crime, and you know their names, I would expect an NC magistrate to type up the arrest warrant. But you never know what a magistrate will do.

Later,
Dan

I just could not agree with Dan more. Although, another active tread showed that in Michigan you have to wear a helmet and have your gun cased on your personal property when riding an ATV or UTV. Seems rather extreme on your own property.

Dan's right, check the local laws. You sure are getting the run around.

MarkV

 

[David P]

Man, that is frustrating about the lack of support from your law guys.

I take it that your camera is infared and can take pictures without the guys knowing they are being watched.

How about going the opposite route and get a cheap motion camera like the Tasco, from walmart?
That camera just uses a flash so every time it take a pic they will know.

Tasco 3MP Game Camera, Black - Walmart.com

My upgraded camera is a Bushnell trophy cam with the blacked out IR flash. It has a "plot watcher" mode that I had set to take pictures every so many minutes. Additionally, if there is motion between shots it will take a pic. Since the distance from the camera to the blueberries is greater than what will often trigger the motion activated camera, the plot watcher feature works exceptionally well. The pictures are fabulous.

 

[David P]

Since my case has just been reassigned I think I"m going to give the new Trooper a few days to get back with me. I am frustrated by this process but feel like I need to give him a chance to get busy....

 

[Smallplot]

Sounds like you handed them some great info. If the HP doesn't act on this contact your county sheriff's office and maybe they would act on it. You could always contact the states attorney or DA whichever you have.

If you have evidence of them being there on several occasions I would prob attempt to get a warrant they can charge multiple charges on the warrant. For instance 3 counts of trespassing and 3 counts of theft. Might get a higher bond set that way.

 

[David P]

Sounds like you handed them some great info. If the HP doesn't act on this contact your county sheriff's office and maybe they would act on it. You could always contact the states attorney or DA whichever you have.

If you have evidence of them being there on several occasions I would prob attempt to get a warrant they can charge multiple charges on the warrant. For instance 3 counts of trespassing and 3 counts of theft. Might get a higher bond set that way.

I actually did drop by the County Sheriff's office looking for some input on the situation. However, my property is located in an area that is designated to be covered by the MSP.

 

[chucko]

So they would not even give you any some input on the situation?

I bet if YOU do something wrong they will all have input on the situation

 

[David P]

So they would not even give you any some input on the situation?

I bet if YOU do something wrong they will all have input on the situation

They did provide some input but it was mostly limited to 1) allow the police to handle it and 2) see the police who cover your area. I was hoping for a bit more conversation but understand their desire to not step on one another's toes.

I called the post last night and will again this evening. Update to follow.

 

[David P]

Got a live one, here!

I spoke with the new MSP Trooper this evening who sees no need to speak with the suspects (as did the former Trooper). He will be sending the case up to the Prosecutor's office within the next day or two.

 

[955Lincoln]

Got a live one, here!

I spoke with the new MSP Trooper this evening who sees no need to speak with the suspects (as did the former Trooper). He will be sending the case up to the Prosecutor's office within the next day or two.

Great....foward progress. Which route were you hoping for?

 

[jonyyuma]

Good to read that maybe you can get some Justice , or at least put them in their place without provoking them? I liked most of the camera ideas posted here..

 

[71bronco]

No updates yet? I want to know if they're in the slammer yet.

Jeff

 

[two_bit_score]

I just could not agree with Dan more. Although, another active tread showed that in Michigan you have to wear a helmet and have your gun cased on your personal property when riding an ATV or UTV. Seems rather extreme on your own property.

Dan's right, check the local laws. You sure are getting the run around.

MarkV

Interesting how quickly that game warden was to write up charges on a landowner for doing something minor on his own property yet this guy can't get any actions on a theft charges when he has pictures in the act.

That Michigan must have some messed up cops.