Thieving

[running_muttley]

I went down to the plot yesterday to find that the raised bed I built last year was now missing 2 blocks. I wasn't too chuffed as you can imagine. I had a look around and couldn't find them till I was leaving when I noticed them supporting a new shed on a neighbouring plot. I knew they were mine as they were mine as I'd cut them in half very badly. Slightly incensed, I took a plank of wood levered up said shed and took my blocks back leaving the shed on a few bricks that were already on their plot. Question is should I tell anyone? Part of me wants the other plot holders to be aware what they’re up to but part of me just wants to keep my head down rather than stirring up a hornet's nest. Any advice welcome.

[smallblueplanet]

If it were me I'd tell folk, cos there'll be comeback (of some sort) over the shed. Get your defence in before any possible counter attack!

[spiderpig]

muttley,
if i were you i would search for "nicking my raspberries" a thread started by eden recently because there whilst the circumstances aren't the same, the moral dilemma it raises it pretty similar and the above thread gives lots of useful advice.good luck whatever you decide to do.

[Duronal]

you could get some mortar and attatch them together? then at least if they steal them they'll have one heck of a stuggle. Alternatives would be to paint them a hideous colour so they're easily identifiable. IMHO prevention is going to be better than joining in with the thieves.

Good Luck.

[Two_Sheds]

I went down to the plot yesterday to find that the raised bed I built last year was now missing 2 blocks. .... I noticed them supporting a new shed on a neighbouring plot.

Ruddy cheek!
If they were on your plot, holding up your beds, I would say darn well right to take them back.

If they were left on the edge of your plot though, perhaps people thought they were rubbish/going spare? I've liberated bricks and stuff from our site, but never from someone's actual plot.

----
I think you should leave a note, in case their new shed collapses

[rustylady]

Think I would have taken them back, and left a note saying why!! You don't have to sign it, just say you liked your raised bed the way it was!!

[SlugLobber]

Flippin eck, I thought at first you were going to say that someone EXTERNALLY ahd stolen your blocks. Am quite shocked that someone is a)brazen enough and b)stupid enough to steal from a neighbouring plot. So much for comraderie! I would have left a polite note to explain that 'these blocks are actually used to build a raised bed and are therefore not available for hire or reward. Many thanks, blah blah.' You know, to the point, but polite with it. Yes, I would tell the plot manager. That really isn't on, especially when blocks of wood are freely available and, er, FREE!

[yorkshire sam]

I would personally tell someone as where does it stop? We have a rule in our association saying that anyone found 'scavenging' (seems a little less harsh than stealing but stealing is what it is!) will be given an immediate notice to quit! The only other thing I would add is there any possibility that he could have mistaken the blocks as scrap or unwanted? Doesnt excuse anything as I am sure most allotmenteers keep stuff on the allotment that might come in handy later - I know I do - and because its not being used at the moment does not give anyone the right to purloin it!

[running_muttley]

Thanks for the advice. I'm off to the allotment with a drill to fix some wood to the blocks to make sure they can't nick them again. There was no way they could have thought they were spare, they were in the middle of my plot edging a raised bed. They're just cheeky beggars. I think the problem is that the person who rents the plot pays someone to look after it, (I know) suspect she paid someone to put the shed up and they were just lazy. Will see if there's anyone down here today to mention it to.

[Two_Sheds]

the person who rents the plot pays someone to look after it, (I know) suspect she paid someone to put the shed up and they were just lazy

there's your answer then. The thief just doesn't care, cos it's not their plot

and just what is the point of having a plot if you pay someone else to garden it?

[lottie dolly]

our lottie rules state that,nobody is allowed on another plot,without the plot holders consent,and anyone caught taking things without consent,is instant dismisal,very fair rules i think,

[snohare]

I cringe when I say this, but I must say, I am inclined to sympathise with the shed owner ! (Potentially )

and just what is the point of having a plot if you pay someone else to garden it?

To answer your (very pertinent) last question, Two Sheds:
I have a plot, and am frequently too unwell to look after it as well as I'd like. But I need the veggies, and the money I save - and whenever possible, the exercise, and sheer fun - to get me back to health (which it has been notably successful at, compared to most NHS treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome). So I have a friend who helps me out occasionally, shifting heavy duty stuff that I'm not fit to, when it needs to be shifted from communal areas.
Right enough, I don't pay him with money, I pay him in food ( I don't have money !) but if he were to make such a crass faux pas I would be devastated to lose my plot over his misdemeanour. (It so happens I am sure of him, but as he has mental health problems, who is to know what he may do on a bad day ? Half the reason he comes to the plot is because it is therapeutic for him too. Normally a win-win thing.)
Having said all that, playing devil's advocate, I consider myself responsible for his behaviour to a large degree - any problems, I'd feel obligated to sort out, if needs be by removing his key from him.
I'd say, get back to the shed owner, let her know what happened. If you don't give fair warning of problem behaviour by her "friend", you cannot expect it to be nipped in the bud. If she has a bad attitude - "get lost, nothing to do with me" as opposed to " "So sorry, what can I do?" then you make sure that she is put in the spotlight with whoever runs the site, and future problems will be dealt with more effectively using the power of concensus. Dealing with unreasonable behaviour one on one is a recipe for disaster, because what you say to the culprit is likely to be taken as a personality conflict rather than as a statement of how things should be done.

[cupcake]

Don't get me started!!!!!!!!!!

[Two_Sheds]

I have a plot, and am frequently too unwell to look after it as well as I'd like. ...So I have a friend who helps me out occasionally, .... I don't pay him with money, I pay him in food

Fair enough. That describes most of us, I think.
It's totally different to paying someone to work your plot.

[jogette]

Running Mutley, I sympathise with you. I took on an allotment late this Spring and have been trying to get it into shape. It is on a hillside so we've decided to make raised beds to stop the soil washing away when we water the plants. We have struggled up to the allotment with wood that we have bought second -hand, blagged or were given. A few weeks ago, we went up to get on with building and found that our wood pile was greatly diminished. This is wood that is stored against the back of our shed in an enclosed area so there is no way that anyone could think it was 'spare'. We have decided to only take any wood up there when we are actually going to build with it, it's too much hard effort for nothing otherwise. Did think that I would start to put a 'tag' on any wood with spray paint - plenty of graffiti around here to give some inspiration!