Trees stolen after been cut

**robutacion** · 1st August 2008, 04:25 AM

Hi Everyone,

I will try to remember as I write this thread that is passed midnight so, the events happen yesterday and the day before, I explain;
Wednesday, I had it planned and organised to cut some small dead gums on a fence line, and cut 2 unknown trees near dead, a few meters from that fence line. I cut 2 small dead gums that did fall on the outside of the fence, where the trailer and vehicle were. Cut the gums into firewood size logs and while my wife Merissa was starting to load the 6x4 trailer, I decided to cut these 2 unknown trees, that grow there after the highway was built years ago, but never planted so they were wild stuff.

I took some pics of the first one with one one upright branch still up, and behind it is the other one, which is a different species with some dry "pods" still on it as you can see in the pic. Anyway, I cut the 2 trees and had already sorted and cut to small lengths (about 3") for easy storage and transportation, when I realise that the trailer was full already of the dead gum (firewood only), and were still lots of gum logs left so we picked them up and packed them all on the other side of the fence, there is inside of the paddock. After we had the gum sorted, we proceeded to carry all the wood from these 2 beautiful coloured trees back to the same spot at the fence, but this time we left them on the outside, there is the same side from where the trees were cut. We have done this firstly because the timber was extremely heavy to throw over the fence, and second we needed to clean all the area where the trees were cut plus some smaller timber that broke apart when the gums hit the ground. Everything was piled up in a safe area and set a light so, in no time (20 minutes) all the left over branches etc., were gone and the place clean.
The idea was to comeback yesterday (Thursday) about lunch time, and load first all that red unknown wood that I did cut specifically for wood turning, firstly because we were expecting some rain for Thursday afternoon/evening, which we end up getting, as I wanted the timber to be under cover before any more rain. The 2 trees would make a very overfull trailer, with some possible logs needing to go inside the Ford Waggon. The rest of the dead gum would be picked up next time (few days) after a would cut a couple more to make the load. Well, this was the plane anyway but, when we arrived to the location, we realised that all the red timber i did cut from those 2 trees, was gone, apart from 2 small sticks, on small branch and half of the bottom log from the tree butt, as this butt was split from the ground and one half i didn't wanted to cut any smaller on site, making it the heavier piece but still easy enough for a strong bloke to pick it up off the ground. I had some really good size logs (about 500kg) to work into turning blanks, and the fact that I never seen or turned this nice coloured and very heavy wood. Someone seen us cutting it and waited for as to leave and steal it from us. We left about 4:30pm and I' sure it was done late at night or very early in the morning but my bet is, late at night!

I can't describe how shocked and upset I was to lose hours of work and timber that never had and with great potential to turn into some very unique pieces...! bugger, bugger! I have no doubt that who did it is going to burnt it as firewood, bastards...!

Now, can any of you recognise these 2 tree species, at least the one in close up shots?

Cheers

RBTCO

**artme** · 1st August 2008, 08:07 AM

**lubbing5cherubs** · 1st August 2008, 08:29 AM

mate that stinks hope you manage to sneak yourself smoe more of it for y ou
Toni

**Rum Pig** · 1st August 2008, 08:47 AM

OH thanks for cutting that for me RBTCO it is much appreciated.I will send you a pen when I'm done.

Of course I'm only kidding

long way for me to come just to do a dirty dog thing like that

I hope you find them and give them what for

I can not help with identification of your trees sorry

But if I was to guess would it be a wattle ( leaves do not look right) just going by the bark and your description of the weight??

**TTIT** · 1st August 2008, 09:55 AM

Looks like casuarina cristata (AKA Sheoak, Belah), probably the subspecies 'pauper' (Black sheoak) down your way. The sheoaks happen to be known as one of our best firewoods - someone knows what they're looking for!

**BobL** · 1st August 2008, 10:16 AM

Bastards!
Hope they choke on the smoke.

**Stuart** · 1st August 2008, 01:23 PM

Sorry to hear, but just a question - isn't timber on the naturestrip (or road (public)side of a fence) pretty much regarded as fair game? In the city it seems to be the case, with people stacking unwanted timber on the naturestrip in the expectation that someone who wants it will clear it away.

It might be that the perpetrator thought they were doing you a favour, clearing away some unwanted timber. Of course, I might be wrong, and they were just common-grade wankers too.

**Terry B** · 1st August 2008, 01:44 PM

Free precut firwood as far as the thief was concerned.
Shame

**Sawdust Maker** · 1st August 2008, 01:47 PM

Bugger

**RETIRED** · 1st August 2008, 01:49 PM

Have to agree with Stuart.

Most roadside loppers cut the bigger bits into firewood size for people to collect.

**Woodwould** · 1st August 2008, 02:01 PM

I always left smaller stuff (250mm diameter and under) on the side of the road in manageable lengths for anyone that wanted it (it saved me dragging it home or to the tip), so I'm not surprised it dissapeared.

**fxst** · 1st August 2008, 03:08 PM

yep what and Woodwould said...

Up here the trees on the footpaths and nature strips when lopped are left in firewood sizes for people to pick up.
Most spring/summer loppings go into my trailer for firewood, pens etc
If inside the fence line then that woul be stealing ....on the public side its called collecting firewood
Pete

**China** · 1st August 2008, 11:41 PM

I have to agree that most people would have thought it was there for the taking, it is a very common thing for land owners to do

**Seventh Wood** · 1st August 2008, 11:57 PM

RBTCO,

I am in rural South Australia and I am feeling a bit guilty because on the way through Clare today, tree Loppers were trimming trees around the Clare oval. I had just been to the Clare dump and conveniently had the empty trailer in tow - so three good bits of pepper tree, one up to 400 mm thick, and several other bits of elm/ash and I was on my way - but with the knowledge of the loppers.

I have noticed that in the area of Adelaide that I lived, people will just leave cut timber on the footpath and it will dissapear within hours. I have scored some good turning bits this way.

A local vacant lot with three large red gums is a further example. The trees could not be removed, given the current tree presevation rules, but they were poisoned by the owners/developers over several months, then one day I noticed they were no longer standing. By the time I got there, almost all of the timber had disappeared and I scored about 4 hunks suitable for bowls, but two other blokes were loading up trailers and were only going to use the beautiful timber as firewood! So by the end of the day, all of the timber was gone - and in broad daylight!

Sorry to hear about your loss - it pays to be able to take away what you cut!

Cheers

7th wood

**JJK** · 2nd August 2008, 12:59 AM

The tree with the red colour wood is a sheoak species as TTiT says and the pods are seed cones which cockatoos love to eat. These trees are common around the Goolwa area. The wood is a typical sheoak with the flecked pattern, but when drying out it splits like hell. It is heavy and it is considered as good firewood!
I thought it is illegal to cut down trees alongside public roads or goverment land unless you have goverment permission (not that I'm doubting you dont).

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