Forest owners losing to timber thefts (Va)
March 10, 2008 — If you have a tract of forest on your property, it might be a good idea to go have a look at it. And make a habit of it, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation advises. Regular inspection of private forests is one of the ways the Virginia Department of Forestry said landowners can prevent timber theft. Thieves annually steal $2 million in trees in the 13-counties of Southwest Virginia that form VDF forester Ed Stoots’ service region. Read more…
Timber Theft Gets Attention (Ky)
March 10, 2008 — Kentucky's county attorneys would have a clearer road to prosecution of timber thefts under a bill sponsored by Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort. Current state law allows for prosecution for theft by unlawful taking if stolen property is worth $300 or more. Senate Bill 171 would include timber among such property. "What we did was say that if a tree is worth taking the time and effort of cutting it down, loading it into a truck and hauling it out, then it's worth more than $300," said Franklin County Attorney Rick Sparks who sanctioned the proposal and has worked with Carroll on it. Read more…
Neighbor charged in timber theft
October 3, 2007 — A Rosewood area man is accused of cutting down $250,000 worth of a neighbor's trees and selling some of the timber, authorities say. Don Twiggs, 54, Howell Road, Goldsboro, is charged with obtaining property by false pretenses, Wayne County Sheriff's Capt. Tom Effler said. Twiggs first came in contact with William Cotton, also of the Rosewood area, to ask if he could buy the timber, Effler said. When Cotton told Twiggs he had plans to sell the timber to someone else, Twiggs found another method of getting it — cutting down the trees on the 47-acre property himself Read more…
Maples falling victim to backwoods thieves
June 14, 2007 — The crime occurred far back in the woods, off a dead-end gravel road where no one would hear the fatal cut or see the victim fall. It wouldn't be discovered until Mason County Sheriff's Deputy Ted Drogmun came upon a path in the underbrush while patrolling the forest Read more…
Blue Licks residents report slippery elm bark theft
May 28, 2007 — Thieves allegedly filling a demand for a natural home remedy have struck local woodlands. Slippery elm bark was stripped from about 100 trees on at least two Blue Licks properties, recently. Read more…