BG's in my barn ! Photo added!
I've got a couple of old barns at a pasture that is on a major highway that no one lives nearby. We use them to store stuff that is too good to throw away though not good enough to keep around our main shop. For example, used lumber, empty barrels, old tractor tires, empty buckets, hay, a few old cars, etc
I don't go there very often, (not daily), but I do pass by there maybe several times a day. Today I discovered footprints belonging to a "couple of guys" that have been sneaking in there. I guess they've been a few times apparently looking for something worthwhile to steal, particularly copper or aluminum. The old place had been originally wired with Romex, none of it worked, in fact there's no electricity anyway. They've been cutting down that old copper wire and hauling it out of there on foot.
I'm pretty sure they live nearby, in fact they left my buckets they used, in the woods, on the way to their house. Inside my barn are plenty of fresh footprints, cigarette butts, empty chip bag, and stuff moved around from their visit. It was pretty easy to see where they would come and go on the backside of the barn, away from the highway.
I'm pretty sure they are easing in there very late in the afternoon, while there is still enough light to see, then leaving right at dusk so they can see their way through the dry creek bed they are using as a trail.
I called the local SO to report this burglary and after some discussion I asked that they not come right away to take a report/pictures etc, I didn't want my nearby "neighbors" to see a marked patrol car out there, and I also requested that they not make frequent passes yet. I don't want to risk spooking these guys too quick. I'll get a detective in an unmarked car out to make his report early next week. I told the deputy that I'll be doing a "sit and watch" over the weekend, if I see anything I'll call it in by cell phone and let them handle it. Late this afternoon I got a ride that dropped me off nearby and I walked to a spot on the opposite side of the road so I could watch and listen from a distance. I stayed until well after dark.
I'll make some random checks and do some more "sit and watch" this weekend, plus tomorrow I'm going to set up some hidden game cams.
If these guys show up, they'll be in the barn for a while, they've probably gotten fairly comfortable with their new job. I'll phone it in, stay on the line if they want me to, and I think the SO will have plenty of time to show up and catch them red-handed.
I'll update this and let ya'll know what went on, maybe nothing, but we'll see what happens. They haven't gotten all of the wire out, so there is some motivation for them to return. BTW I sat in the middle of a pretty big thicket/briar patch that had me well-hidden plus there would be no sneaking up on me.
I'm going to do this in a manner to keep me on the up-and-up, but I couldn't help thinking how funny it would be to lock up a bad bull in that barn, or use one of those signal trip wire devices that uses 12 gauge blanks. I'll enjoy the thoughts, but won't put them in practice.
