Every bit of it!
As if life hasn't been rough enough of late, today was the knife twisted yet again in the wound. My house is heated the old-fashioned way with wood in wood burning stoves. A little over a year ago I bartered with a guy. A wonderful mutual friend had put us in contact. I needed cut wood and he needed a pickup for his son. He cut me up a bunch of firewood from my own wood and I gave him the pickup. I also let him have as much extra as he needed to take to a woman that had just got out of the hospital and didn't have any heat. He cut me up a LOT of wood. Much more than I had even asked for. He even piled a bunch of it up by my front porch so it was easier for me to get to (we were getting ready to have a big ice spell). He cut down the dead and half dead trees on my front yard (acre) and piled it all up, then went back just in the edge of my back 3 acres, behind my goat yard, and cut up a whole bunch more. I had forgotten to leave that back gate unlocked for him (I was at work that day- it took him a few days) so he said he had left all of that back there. He had climbed over the gate to get back to my woods, and God bless him, he had started tossing it over into the goat yard so he could haul it back out through the front gate that was unlocked, but quit when he decided I had plenty in the front to finish out the winter. Estimating, that left roughly 3 ricks in my woods for later.
After that next cold spell, winter eased up and I only used a small portion of what was closer to the house. Last winter came and I still had almost enough close to the house to carry me through (on the front two acres). Then in February I had my heart attack and was too weak to haul wood into the house... or even to build my fire. So I bundled up, closed off as much of the house as I could, and used a couple of those little oil-filled electric radiator heaters. I couldn't afford to use all that electric, but I didn't have a choice right then and was very thankful I had them for backup. Then towards the end of March and into April I used up the remainder of the wood close to the house. Well, me and someone else did. Several times when I came home at night, from a long day at work, another layer of wood from the rick closest to my West side neighbor would be missing.  At the beginning of that previous winter, I had another pile of wood closer up between me and my West side neighbor. One night, as another cold spell came in, I came home, tired and cold, went to get some wood to start a fire and..... it was almost all gone! Only a few rotten pieces were left. This was before I had wood cut. It was the only pile I had left.  And the young neighbors next door (a very healthy young man), who had been out of wood, had a nice cloud of smoke billowing from his stove pipe.  Now the second time, I gave him some doubt as I had moved my wood stack down closer to the street, but where my security light fell on it. So other people could have seen it and been tempted. Still, it doesn't take a genius to figure it out.
Now, because of my health issues the last few months (plus the ticks and snakes have been plentiful) I have not been on my back, densely wooded 3 acres lately. But I knew I had at least 3 ricks of wood there and took comfort in knowing that it would get me at least half way through the winter so I could focus on other worries right now. Well, I finally went back there today to cut some green stuff for my goats and to survey my wood and guess what.......IT'S ALL GONE!!!! EVERY BIT OF IT! There remained only about half a dozen small, short sticks of wood. And there was a well-defined, beaten down path going from the fence by my neighbors' trailer over to where the wood was suppose to be.
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read more blogs!
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tentfire
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Sep 18 @ 11:11PM
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I have no doubt where my wood went. But there is probably no way whatsoever I can prove it. I imagine they burned all the "evidence" last winter, while I was sick (I had also just gotten over pneumonia) and bundled up by a little electric heater trying to get warm. And the shivering wasn't helping my heart any. Now, that couple directly next door are young, probably early 30's, and the guy is strong and healthy. But he chose to steal my wood while I was down rather than cut his own . As I said, my back three acres is densely wooded with TONS of dead wood lying all around. I would have gladly let him cut some for himself if he agreed to leave me a little also, or even just let him cut some for himself if I already had plenty. I would have even let him use my chainsaw and bought the gas for it. But no, that would have been work. He preferred to strip me of all my means of heat. People like him need to be hung up by their um..hms, shook up and down for a good lengthy time, sprayed with a skunk, and...and....I am having trouble thinking of enough bad things to do to him.....then left there in the cold to enjoy himself for a good long time. Firewood is a hard thing to lock up, but I will have to figure something out...just as soon as I can figure out how to pay someone to cut me up some more.
Thank you for listening to my vent.
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Wing_Zero_75
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Sep 18 @ 11:28PM
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Oh man, that sucks. I heat with wood as well and can understand how much effort goes into the whole process. Hehe, I could give you a few ideas for your neighbors, but you need a power drill, vicegrips, a razor, and rope. 
Nothing like being kicked and hard when your down huh? If I was closer I would give you a hand, but Im quite a ways off.
Hope things work out for you in the end. You might want to get a video camera and turn it on when your away, if its possible that is.
Larry
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gunn12fan
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Sep 18 @ 11:31PM
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Dang Of all the nerve of some people in this world! It makes me angry that some moron neighbor would do this to you!!!!!! If I just had the chance I would have liked to wring the morons neck!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! Remember those chapters in the bible and I wish I could do more for you 
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mystery2u888
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Sep 18 @ 11:37PM
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I am so sorry ........tent omgosh I can't believe some people would do that.....the next time you are able to get more wood and stuff can you .......move it closer or at least ..put something on it so that if someone's tries to get it it will make a nice big noise........or .....make a sign saying if you think you are being watched this time I got you cuz your on camera.......a hidden one.....  something to make them think...... 
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bardnsage
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Sep 18 @ 11:38PM
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Bring him out to the path,,, show it to him,,, and give him a bill.
If he balks,,,
Show the sheirff,,, and CHARGE HIM,,, so he can replenish your wood.
Cold is not that far away,,,
Lazy good for nothing,,, some of a,,,, wood stealing,,,
Do not give in to the temptation of getting a new pile of wood back there,, and setting a bear trap for him to find.
CALL THE LAW,,, while the path is evident.
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hpylady_
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Sep 18 @ 11:58PM
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I think I would go to him and not let him know you knew (I know it will be hard) and ask him if he'll cut some wood for you and then tell him you will give him some wood for pay...then say "you do burn wood don't you" like you don't know .. then while in conversation you might mention that you've had to put surveillance cameras around cause apparently some kids have been helping themselves. 
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tentfire
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Sep 19 @ 12:08AM
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Oh, yes... It was all Hickory and Oak, too.
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summerbreeze916
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Sep 19 @ 12:11AM
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That is such a disgrace! I am so sorry you had to be subjected to that, tentfire. I agree with bardnsage. What I would do is to go to him and tell him to come with you. Let him know that the path leads from his house to your back woods. Tell him that you expect him to cut and pile more wood for you immediately and free of charge, or you will call the authorities and that you WILL press charges against him. In fact, maybe you should call the authorities FIRST and ask them to go to his house with you. You never know what your neighbors could be like anymore.
I know a kudo is not going to help you any at all, but I'm giving you one anyway. 
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hart_of_gold64
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Sep 19 @ 5:30AM
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wish you lived closer to me.I would pay my brother to cut some for you.I know exactly what you are going thru.Someone stole my wood 3 yrs ago when I was in the hospital having brain surgery. .When I came home,no wood for heat.But I take comfort in knowing he has a nice place waiting for him all warm 7 extra toasty 
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mystery2u888
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Sep 19 @ 6:47AM
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I am still thinking about this and I hope that what we talked about an make that list helps.............it will be beneficial to you in the long run.........
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legacy1
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Sep 19 @ 8:48AM
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Wow that sucks. I also heat with wood but I keep my supply under lock and key in my shed....you just can't trust anyone anymore...how sad!
I would do what some of the others have advised...call the cops...keep us posted!
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silksox
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Sep 20 @ 8:51AM
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Hello Tent
I agree with Bardnsage pretty much.....
... send him a bill and in that bill give him 30 days to pay of replace ALL wood. Also drop the hint that the pathway leads to his home and that if the wood is not replaced...at the very least you WILL call the law to get it on record that there was a robbery at your home and DOCUMENT it. This should prevent your neighbor from stealing from you again.
I feel for Lady
silks
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Fender
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Sep 20 @ 9:42AM
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That's terrible...I too once had a house that used wood for heat and it's a hell of a lot of hard work.
That man is a disgrace...I would try and see if there is anything you can do about it. I hope you get some recompensation. I'm sorry that there are people out there who will do things like that...Although I have to say...I'm not surprised. He should be ashamed of himself.
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DRACULA_VwV
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Sep 20 @ 10:43AM
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Ok, get the police involved, put another large pile of wood, in the back, place a tracking transmitter inside one of the logs, the neighbor will take the next batch of wood, and you got him, press charges, and have him place all the wood that he took back where he stole it from. It's as easy as that.
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DRACULA_VwV
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Sep 20 @ 11:00AM
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I take my machine guns over a few friends houses, they also burn wood. Large piles of wood. So we stand there unleashing ammunition into the wood pile. For the last 5 years, no one even comes on the property, let alone come near the wood pile. We shoot when ever we want. If we feel like unleashing ammunition, because of an issue with people, we'll just pull in front of the wood pile, even at night, take the machine guns out of the vehicle and let the flames fly.
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tentfire
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Sep 20 @ 1:24PM
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Oh.... I can't thank everyone enough for all the wonderful comments and emails!!! You guys are the BEST!!
As far as contacting my neighbors personally, that gets a little complicated....I have had a LOT of trouble with these people for quite some time, now. I just recently had to get the law in on it on another matter. And these people are SUPER spiteful. I will blog more about our ongoing "feud" in future blogs, if you guys are interested. You see, when they get mad at me for anything (or just get bored) they let my goats out while I am gone, then call the law to report my goats are out. Fortunately last time it back-fired, I was able to prove it, and they got caught. So I will have to bypass talking to them and just file that report with the sheriff's dept. PLUS I have this big, long cabinet door I had just tossed into my burn pile. I am going to paint a sign on it "Watch Your Firewood. Mine Was Stolen" and hang it by my front gate. It will get all the neighbors on my side of the mountain buzzing and pressure exerted on the offenders. They pulled together once before when one of them caught this kid purposely running over my geese. I don't know what they all did to him, but he quit.
I will be back on here tonight to better answer everyone's emails and comments. Again, I can't thank you guys enough. This site is the best support group that ever was....... Right now I must log off and change my clothes. I am heading out for my first date in about 4 months.
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thenewguy295
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Sep 21 @ 8:47AM
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Maybe you could buy or borrow one of those game cameras and "cover" your wood pile with it.
You'd only need one picture of the guy taking your wood and, assuming the guy took it all, you could leverage that into some kind of compensation.
It would definately support your contention that he took it and if nothing else help you get community support.
Good luck.
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thenewguy295
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Sep 21 @ 8:49AM
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Another thought, if you know any hunters or a local hunting club maybe they would be interested in hunting your property and in a way keeping another set of eyes on it.
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Santo007
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Sep 21 @ 7:21PM
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Hugs and Prayers Tent  
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ttomtarr
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Sep 21 @ 8:49PM
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Two years ago I got a metal shed with doors. It holds a lot of wood, very securely, and looks good enough to be near the house.
And best of all, that very dry stored wood lights way easier, and burns much, much hotter that wood under a tarp that flops on and off. I would never go back to unhoused wood again.
And Craig's list has some good deals on used ones.
And be carefull if you are shooting and drilling holes in firewood at the same time. Some of those cartridges might fall into the holes, get jammed, and go off when the wood is in the stove. 
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