Vandalism

rast · October 07, 2008, 02:24:51 PM

Just venting for a minute. A hive down in an orange grove that got weak and wax moths got in was kicked over and upside down yesterday or day before. It rained over an inch last night so they got soaked really good. I had sprayed the comb and cut it back to one brood box with a top feeder inside a super last Friday. I have a strong suspicion who did it, but no proof. I put it back together, but I think now I probably should combine it with another weak one I have. No brood or eggs or any sign of the queen, just a double handfull of bees.

JP · October 07, 2008, 11:44:21 PM

Sorry this happened, perhaps set up a booby trap with camera. Hope you catch 'em. Don't be too hard on 'em if it winds up being kids, don't let 'em off the hook, but make something constructive out of it if you can, ie: tough love apprentice.

Kids love knocking over hives, little bastages!

...JP

EasternShore · October 08, 2008, 08:40:50 AM

One word............CLAYMORES....kidding really...a good camera is safer...but not nearly as effective.

rast · October 08, 2008, 09:26:36 AM

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was some kids. The family rented a house down the road. Even if I caught them, the parents wouldn't do anything to em ( I know the family). Unlike when I was growing up, I would of got a whooping and Daddy would have made me apologize face to face and make some kind of restitution. (I'm not exactly innocent of doing some bad things you know).
Anyway, that was yesterday, todays a new day. I'm going to go get them and do a newspaper combine with another weak hive.

JP · October 08, 2008, 09:42:33 AM

Rast, if the parents won't do anything, involve the cops. If you are able to ascertain for a fact who did it and believe the parents wouldn't discipline the kids, explain your plight to the cops and that you want to teach the kids a constructive lesson on the virtues of respecting other's property.

You will more than likely find a cop that wants to participate if they have the chance, cause those same kids may be the ones they arrest as adults or not, but what a great time for a lesson.

Cops and caring adults taught me a few lessons when I was a kid and I am thankful for those tough love lessons, it was scary at times, but boundaries and ultimatums were made evident and this is what kids need and unfortunately in a lot of cases lack today.

Lines have to be drawn or mischief just repeats itself.

...JP

Bill W. · October 08, 2008, 10:07:47 AM

Game cameras are cheap and good for catching pests, animal or human.

rast · October 08, 2008, 11:02:58 AM

Quote from: Bill W. on October 08, 2008, 10:07:47 AM
Game cameras are cheap and good for catching pests, animal or human.

Do they work at night?

Irwin · October 08, 2008, 11:16:31 AM

Mine do but they have a flash

pdmattox · October 08, 2008, 11:33:24 AM

My camera will take night time photos but uses a flash which makes it a target of theft as well. There are cameras with infared and don't have the flash, or you could get one of those tracking chips hide it in the camera and when it is stolen you realy have them.

rast · October 08, 2008, 11:41:13 AM

JP wrote "Rast, if the parents won't do anything, involve the cops. If you are able to ascertain for a fact who did it"

First, at this time I can't ascertain they did it. Just a lot of "minor" vandalism since they moved in and family history.
Second, I had the Deputies out here about breakins at a neighbors(he's in Wis.) place, nothing obvious stolen. First his mobile home, then his honey house and all storage sheds. All lately. Their main intrest the last time was how old the tractor was that I was mowing with, not the 4 wheeler tracks and which way they went or the tennis shoe tracks. "They would get it on record".
They did get excited about 6 or 7 years ago though. My wife came home early and found 2 people ransacking our house. My wife threw down on them and my mother in-law had a sawed off shovel handle. Mother in-law called 911. When I got here it looked like a law enforcement convention. Deputies, hiwaypatrol, city cops and even a game warden.

rast · October 08, 2008, 11:45:14 AM

Tracking chip, now thats a neat idea Dallas.

JP · October 08, 2008, 11:50:23 AM

Quote from: rast on October 08, 2008, 11:02:58 AM
Quote from: Bill W. on October 08, 2008, 10:07:47 AM
Game cameras are cheap and good for catching pests, animal or human.

Do they work at night?

Yes, they work at night, and I would definitely recommend an infrared, like the Moultrie 4.0.

I would mount it high and angled downwards and camouflage the camera by concealing it amongst leaves, etc.. that were secure.

...JP

mlewis48 · October 08, 2008, 11:58:15 AM

I would hate to find someone in my house ransacking it! The state of Ohio allows us to conceal and carry, if you go through the courses. I am a firm believer in protecting what I worked so hard to get. As for the kids vandelizing my hives. Make them smash a bannana in each hand and stand in front of the hives!!!! If the parents don't want to correct them now, what is going to come of them in a few years when they get older and the acts get bigger?

JP · October 08, 2008, 12:01:26 PM

Quote from: mlewis48 on October 08, 2008, 11:58:15 AM
I would hate to find someone in my house ransacking it! The state of Ohio allows us to conceal and carry, if you go through the courses. I am a firm believer in protecting what I worked so hard to get. As for the kids vandelizing my hives. Make them smash a bannana in each hand and stand in front of the hives!!!! If the parents don't want to correct them now, what is going to come of them in a few years when they get older and the acts get bigger?

My point exactly!

...JP

rast · October 08, 2008, 12:38:39 PM

If the parents don't want to correct them now, what is going to come of them in a few years when they get older and the acts get bigger?

They grow up just like mommie and daddy.

dhood · October 08, 2008, 06:02:39 PM

Would be nice if someone came out with one of those exploding ink tags :shock:, that the stores use. But adapted for this use. I would go to every house in the neighborhood, would make it much easier to find them.

Brian D. Bray · October 09, 2008, 09:23:52 PM

Quote from: JP on October 08, 2008, 09:42:33 AM
Rast, if the parents won't do anything, involve the cops. If you are able to ascertain for a fact who did it and believe the parents wouldn't discipline the kids, explain your plight to the cops and that you want to teach the kids a constructive lesson on the virtues of respecting other's property.

You will more than likely find a cop that wants to participate if they have the chance, cause those same kids may be the ones they arrest as adults or not, but what a great time for a lesson.

Cops and caring adults taught me a few lessons when I was a kid and I am thankful for those tough love lessons, it was scary at times, but boundaries and ultimatums were made evident and this is what kids need and unfortunately in a lot of cases lack today.

Lines have to be drawn or mischief just repeats itself.

...JP

I've had kids I either arrested or "had contact with" when I was a police officer contact me years later and thank me for taking the time to set them straight. Those times make me feel that all the pain and suffering I've been through due to the injuries I recieved when a police department was worth it.
Then there were those whose parents cursed me for arresting their little darling. How dare I. Some of those died in prison, car accidents (DUI or such), or by some other violent means.
I'm thanful for those that learned from the experience and sorry for those who blamed me.

Rodni73 · October 10, 2008, 09:45:32 AM

Welcome to the club Brian!

I feel your pain! I am a high school teacher and through my seven years of teaching, I encountered a great numbers of kids who did not know any better. Worse, their parents often defend their mischievous deeds and blamed the teachers and administration whenever they got themselves in trouble. In some cases, I observed the parents and their delinquent darling preempt the teacher or the principal in an effort to get a better leverage on future "slights" when the student is in danger of failing or in the process of being expelled. To say the least, I had one such kid that I had to deal with for 2 years. He graduated... Only to end up in state prison on narcotic and assault with a deadly weapon charges!

One might wonder what would have happen if that kid had good parents or responsible guardians to guide him and reform his behavior rather than blame others!