Hay theft?

[John Fitzgerald]

A relative of ours has 60 acres of relatively poor grassland. They have a cabin/ shed on it. A neighbor went in without permission and made about 50 bales off it. They were planning to leave it natural and uncut. What should they do?

 

[ovrszd]

Collect money for the bales or call the Sheriff.

Also, have a coming to Jesus meeting with neighbor.

 

[aczlan]

Did the neighbor take the bales, or leave them there?

Aaron Z

 

[Diggin It]

How often are they there to make their presence and intentions known? Is the property fenced? Posted with signs?

 

[ovrszd]

So I have to fence my field and post signs to protect myself from someone cutting hay on me? Not in Missouri.

 

[3Ts]

Be careful on this. If your relative isn't there all the time, the neighbor may have just been trying to help out (based on their perception of what needed to be done) and was not trying to steal the hay. Check with the neighbor (nicely) to see what was up.
I was gone for awhile and my neighbor took it upon himself to come over and mow (without letting me know). He ended up mowing down some highly prized flowers, but he was trying to look out for my best interests - we ended up being very good friends and I'd trade the flowers for the friendship.

 

[ovrszd]

Be careful on this. If your relative isn't there all the time, the neighbor may have just been trying to help out (based on their perception of what needed to be done) and was not trying to steal the hay. Check with the neighbor (nicely) to see what was up.
I was gone for awhile and my neighbor took it upon himself to come over and mow (without letting me know). He ended up mowing down some highly prized flowers, but he was trying to look out for my best interests - we ended up being very good friends and I'd trade the flowers for the friendship.

Although touching story, if this neighbor took the hay, not the same.

Last year hay was selling here for $100 p/bale. That would be $5,000. That's a lot of flowers.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

I just learned he caught them when they finished baling. The going rate there is $70 per bale. They were going to just take it. Should they pay half, like $35 per bale? The 60 acres is not fenced, but there is a driveway and cabin/ barn / trailer on it. The neighbor knew. Would you say pay me, or leave it in the field?

 

[atsah]

Leave it and screw and don't do it again.. So they worked for nothing, that's a good lesson for them..

Some people have a lot of nerve..

 

[Jstpssng]

Leave it and screw and don't do it again.. So they worked for nothing, that's a good lesson for them..

Some people have a lot of nerve..

That's the best suggestion that I've read.

 

[CobyRupert]

I just learned he caught them when they finished baling. The going rate there is $70 per bale. They were going to just take it. Should they pay half, like $35 per bale? The 60 acres is not fenced, but there is a driveway and cabin/ barn / trailer on it. The neighbor knew. Would you say pay me, or leave it in the field?

Give them a 1/2 price discount as a favor for stealing it?!
How very nice. Your much more forgiving than I.
...more like make them pay $140 per bale, if they don’t like the price they can talk to the sheriff. They be getting off cheap.

 

[bullbreaker]

A relative of ours has 60 acres of relatively poor grassland. They have a cabin/ shed on it. A neighbor went in without permission and made about 50 bales off it. They were planning to leave it natural and uncut. What should they do?

If they know "a neighbor went in" sounds like theres a witness or some witnesses . Me I would get the witness(s) then I would call the Sheriffs Dept and have them investigate it . Do you also have any pics of neighbor baleing hay , etc ? I wouldnt set foot on there property to discuss this with them . Did they come over and say they did it and why ? Probably not . If they gave me a rough time after absoluote 100 % proof they did it and would not come to my terms regarding theft I would take them to court . If they did that chances are they are also hunting on the land without permission also .
Around here we dont call them neighbors we call them thieves because the way they did it , according to your description !

 

[3Ts]

I just learned he caught them when they finished baling. The going rate there is $70 per bale. They were going to just take it. Should they pay half, like $35 per bale? The 60 acres is not fenced, but there is a driveway and cabin/ barn / trailer on it. The neighbor knew. Would you say pay me, or leave it in the field?

So, they really were stealing it. In that case, all bets are off and I'd call the sheriff and report it as theft.
Around my area i'm not aware of any issues with hay theft, but we do have issues with tree theft. Unfortunately, if you can catch them the penalty is for them to pay you the going rate for the timber which is far less than it's worth.

 

[Sono]

Call the Sheriff and make a report, say you are going to prosecute..... With the exception that they pay for the damages of bailing your field ( set your price high to cover for your loss/damages and trespassing ) when the sheriff goes knocking and tell them they are being arrested for the above complaint BUT if they hand over the cash you will drop the charges and you will also keep your hay ( unless you want it off the field instead of an eyesore ) or you can advertise to sell or give away to someone in need... do what you want with it.

 

[oosik]

The neighbor on my abutting property line to the south had "hay theft" every fall. The local herd of elk would eat the centers out of his round bales. He now brings the round bales in and racks them up in his feed yard. Previously he stacked and fed right out in the fields.

 

[RandyT]

Just another thought. How long have the relatives owned the piece of property. And how long has the thieving neighbor lived there and possibly been making hay on that piece of property. Without knowing the details of the neighbors hay making the relatives could wind up in court counter sued for adverse possession.

 

[Jstpssng]

So, they really were stealing it. In that case, all bets are off and I'd call the sheriff and report it as theft.
Around my area i'm not aware of any issues with hay theft, but we do have issues with tree theft. Unfortunately, if you can catch them the penalty is for them to pay you the going rate for the timber which is far less than it's worth.

Here it used to be triple the stumpage value, but I believe that we now have a set rate based on the stump diameter. If it appears that it was deliberate and/or the value of the wood is high enough they also may be prosecuted for theft. Wood and wood products are a big economic factor in Maine, so we take it seriously. Plus the Forest Service is or was paid for by taxes on land over 500 acres.

 

[ovrszd]

John, splitting is how it's done here. They leave half the hay or buy half at the going rate.

I don't like involving the Sheriff. I'd resolve it man to man. Then there would be no further misconception regarding where everyone stands.

 

[murphy1244]

I would Have him pay 2/3 of the going rate and he take it all.

 

[bullbreaker]

Besides the alleged theft (innocent until proven guilty) , what if who or who's ever did this had set the property accidently on fire ?
Baleing the hay , etc . Been known to happen .

How to prevent a baler fire - Progressive Forage

1 tips for avoiding baler & hay fires this summer | Beef Magazine

Baling Wet Hay Becomes Hot News | Drovers