WWYD Steeling at the yard

lottiepony

lottiepony

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Scenario is this:
Problem with feed being stolen. Happened to one lady who knew who the culprit was but didn't say anything she just locked her feed bins up. Another lady's feed has now been taken - in rather large quantities - she is fairly new to the yard and was really embarrassed and upset by the whole thing, didn't want to say anything bless her. Sssooo offered my help and did the following:

Spoke to the person who is believed (it's a fairly dead cert!) to be taking the food (she's only been at the yard a short time) this morning. In a very friendly way mentioned that the lady had said to me about the feed going missing and that I would mention it to her as she doesn't see this other lady due to work times etc. Told her to just be aware/keep her eyes open and the fact this type of thing has never happened before etc etc. Also that if it keeps happening the yard owner will have be involved. Now I hope she gets the hint and packs it in asap as it's just so wrong on so many levels! But I may have to get her an Oscar nomination for her amazing performance in her answers which basically was a spin of more lies :(

I find it genuinely sad that someone thinks that this is acceptable behavior or perhaps feels like that if they are struggling they can't ask for help as we're all very friendly and helpful on the yard.

I think I did the right thing as without pointing any fingers she is now aware that people have noticed and hopefully she will sort herself out. Perhaps I should have said to the lady that runs the yard but she's all a bit stressed having just had a baby and it would be good if it solves itself without going too far if you know what I mean.
 
This is why I have lockable storage for all my liveries. If it carries on, try one of those infared cameras, that are triggered by movement. Nothing worse than petty pilfering. It undermines the whole ethos of the yard. How is a yard owner supposed to protect a hay stack or bedding barn if people can't be trusted to only take what they pay for!?
 
Do you actually have proof that it is this lady? I wouldn't have said anything to her yourself but would have informed the YM - if she's back at work then she should be doing her job!
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
Do you actually have proof that it is this lady? I wouldn't have said anything to her yourself but would have informed the YM - if she's back at work then she should be doing her job!
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Without a doubt I'm afraid, there's just far too many factors which lead to her, don't want to go into too much detail but having empty feed bins and your horse getting a full bowl of feed morning and night just doesn't add up in my book. (sounding a bit Jessica Fletcher!) I guess I wanted to give her a chance to sort it before going to the YM and if I'm totally wrong (along with the others) then surely no harm done? We're all DIY's so YM doesn't actually do much apart from tell us general things and which fields we can use. Just so sad as in all the time I've been at the yard nothing like this has happened :( it's ruining the whole vibe of the place
 
When a young girl was doing this to me years ago I simply put a note in my bins saying that I know who it is that's stealing my food etc etc and it stopped after that. Perhaps mention to her that its getting beyond a joke and cameras will be going up? Say it more as a yard meeting as such so youre not pointing the finger at her. It may be enough to scare her a bit. And if you have to follow it through you can buy dummy cameras quite cheap.
 
Hopefully she will take the hint and know that things are being monitored

Failing that a mousetrap on top of the feed in the bin perhaps?
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I would be very upset if tht were my yard and there was such a serious problem that I wasn't told about.
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Your right I'll send her a text and let her know, it's a bit hard as we're pretty much all left to ourselves.

WelshD said:
Hopefully she will take the hint and know that things are being monitored

Failing that a mousetrap on top of the feed in the bin perhaps?
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That's what I'm hoping for and I never actually said outright that she was suspected, I just wanted her to be aware that it had been noticed and I think these things are better said face to face not over a text etc
 
lottiepony said:
Your right I'll send her a text and let her know, it's a bit hard as we're pretty much all left to ourselves.



That's what I'm hoping for and I never actually said outright that she was suspected, I just wanted her to be aware that it had been noticed and I think these things are better said face to face not over a text etc
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You are right, so I think it would be better to speak to YM and tell her, rather than tell her in a text.
 
I was accused of stealing people feeds before, yet I knew who it was, but not to be the stirrer I just made a comment in front of everyone in the barn that I will be putting a camera up, I had 2 feed rooms due to having 3 horses, 1 a large area and had my hay and tack there as it was in a large lockable room, and my feed in the other, and because they didn't see my feed in the one I was accused, I made people watch me make my feed and feed my horses yet it wasn't good enough,

For months this went on, I brushed it off as I knew it wasn't me, I left soon after, and you guessed it.... the disappearing food monster was still there!

I got lots of apologies.

So unless there is HARD evidence, don't accuse people, sometimes people can make up the most convincing reasons for people doing it, and you could have it all so wrong.

Hope it gets sorted, its expensive to replace food for other peoples horse/s
 
Stick rat traps in the feed bins if you can’t lock them or paint bin lids with UV paint. Got an interesting comment when someone say why do you have rat traps in your feed bins?? Ummm just how do you know I thought but said "to catch the thieving rats that are steeling a bag of feed a week".
 
Try the note in the bin suggested by holeymoley, I also did this, make it big and obvious, and then see who cannot look you in the eye. Sorted out my little problem very quickly..
 
I got fed up with feeding three horses when I only actually owned two. I knew who it was stealing my feed, as I caught her red handed stealing feed from the other girl sharing the storage area, after which the thief said to this girl "I hope you dont mind, I had to borrow some feed from you". Borrow????? That would imply that she had asked!! The thief also steals hay and shavings from the yard owner, who runs an honesty system in regard to writing down what you have taken from the barn.

My solution to the feed being stolen was to buy metal containers with hinged lockable lids. Funnily enough, my feed lasts me much longer now.
 
DWTeam said:
Stick rat traps in the feed bins if you can’t lock them or paint bin lids with UV paint. Got an interesting comment when someone say why do you have rat traps in your feed bins?? Ummm just how do you know I thought but said "to catch the thieving rats that are steeling a bag of feed a week".
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Or possibly something even weirder to really baffle them and get them asking questions? Let your imagination flow haha! :P

In all seriousness, I hope you get it sorted. People at my old yard stole my food too, to catch in ponies and keep them quiet for farrier/vet. I never caught who did it!
 
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