A Depressing Day

[Bluetongue]

There is no answer then is there. You cant kill or maim them for 3000baht, or at least a sane person wouldn't. If the pond is remote from where you live which I seem to remember it is you cant protect it by some sort of random presence. I have a pond 600 metres from home and so far have not suffered theft but when I do it will be c'est la vie I dont know whether Jake's rumour method of booby traps would be effective on a lao khao fuelled stealing expedition. I thought my 8 strand barbed wire fence at home was pretty good when I built it but now I realise it is completely undrunkproof.

My neighbour has a dozen poo yai bahn supplied catfish in her poo yai bahn supplied 500 litre ong, she changes the water once a week, man does that stink. Kills a catfish on special occasion for the boys to eat as they sit around sipping whisky and soda. Better off sticking to that I reckon Gary

[Gary A]

The entire point being that I bought, fed and raised those fish. They were MY fish and having some thief steal them sucks. It makes me sick that I cannot have anything unless I stand guard over it 24/7. Raising fish is not my livelihood and making money was never my intention. It's not a lot different from some bastard stealing my dog. That happened too. Several years ago my three year old Golden Retriever was also stolen.

[Bluetongue]

I'd be a lot more upset about the dog, man that's your best friend.

[jcw]

"You should go and search for the granny being charged with murder for killing an intruder after wiring her electric fence to the mains."

I have not been able to find anything to do with this unfortunately. However, if it was the front gate that's on the road that was electrified that may be the problem.

How could you get in trouble if a thief cops it will inside your fenced & posted property, it is no different than a thief breaking into your family home porting to forks into electricity outlet and grabbing them, dying, and then you getting in trouble. Condolences regarding your Golden retriever buddy.

Thailand would be a happier place if everybody ate bacon

Edited August 25, 2012 by jcw

[loong]

Don't know if the guy in this thread was ever prosecuted or not. It did say "No charges have been filed against Thongkhao" at the time

[Khonwan]

Gary, I sympathise with you but can offer no advice other than that I like Jake’s idea of bluff. I have 22 Black-Ear Catfish (Pangasius larnaudii ปลาเทโพ Pla Tapo) and 20 Mekong Giant Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas ปลาบึก Pla Buuk), all over 60cm in length and over 5kg (length and weight simply estimated) raised from around 17cm length for 14 months to-date. I’ve raised other species in the same pond over the past 16 years yet have never, to my knowledge, suffered theft (other than from herons, kingfishers, snakes, etc.). My pond is around 200m from my house, with a public path between the two. I think the only reason I have not suffered theft is the fact that my home and pond are remote with nothing beyond us but forest and a quiet park-rangers station. I have never farmed fish commercially but I’d still be very angry if I were to find my pond, which is primarily used for swimming, empty of fish.

I have perhaps one idea, as I write, though you may consider it unsightly. Cattle electric fencing around the perimeter of the pond is a safe deterrent. It can be A.C. or D.C. powered at very little cost. Attach it to each row of heavy gauge barbed wire or even lek-spring, the approximately 3mm pre-stressed rebar that cannot be easily cut (I used this for my cattle). The supply source should be easily hidden (but accessible by you!). I think I would choose the thick barbed wire since should the thief glove-up he still risks being punctured by the barbs and the electrical discharge is greater at the barbs. I can tell you from experience that pulsating bursts of 10,000V are not pleasant. Do make sure, though, that the fence is not at the base of a slope since someone falling on to the fence could die – I lost a fine Brahmin cow that way. This would be a legal deterrent, though you may have to post warnings.

Rgds

Khonwan

PS jcw, you would certainly be jailed if you were to do as you suggested (I thought you were joking), and deservedly so.

[jcw]

I was not actually joking, but I do take your concern and education dearly. I think I should change the idea to non lethal and use High Voltage and low current (almost non current) cattle fencing power supply. I think you are on to something here in all seriousness.

[necronx99]

The other thing to consider here is even if you could rig some sort of detection alarm, would you really want to be staggering out there in the dark at 2am to confront who knows what over a few fish..

[pigeonjake]

hi all,

and to JCW, ive been posting on here for many years and i just try and help people, if you find it boggling that i took the time to try and help then thats up to you,, im like you i too have a pig farm with little piggies and i too would protect them,

my bluff or semi bluff as when i took my wifes friend to show her the fishing hooks dangling form fishing line hiden in the trees were i suspected someone had walked through, they was being left there, above child hight,

so i new it would get round that jake has traps hidden,

and also when people come to our land mywife and myself allways say to whoever comes make sure you only walk on the paths, she says even i stay just to the paths as i dont know if jake has moved the traps,

makes me laugh, becouse she says to people he ting ton with his traps,,

but it works,

jake

[jcw]

Jake, I think it is an excellent idea and congratulations for pulling it off. I think using the cattle fence power supply, example high-voltage noncurrent, is also an excellent idea. If you get zapped by 8000 V and do not understand the power supply is coming from, I would imagine that the fee for justice you that it is 220 V mains power and lethal when in fact it will just give you a hell of a job but not kill you.

Then combined with a little bit of rumor like you have done of traps and the electric fence can kill you think would be the perfect combination. Particularly if the fence got its power from a small battery bank that is continuously recharged so if they kill the mains to the house which is very easy to do with the meter out on the road they still get a nice little jolt through their pants.

In this case it might not be a bad thing that you have the reputation of being the village psychopath. LOL unless we all live in a fortress you cannot keep a determined thief out. But it is very easy to make someone else's property are much easier proposition for the mongrels. Any more rumors that you've put out there that seem to have worked feel free to share. I have seen online for those wanting to source of power supply for cattle electric fences, it was made in New Zealand but I forget the website. I would be reluctant to use anything like this that is made in Thailand.

[necronx99]

^

"Hey, Somchai, I heard that rich farang put a big electric fence around his fishpond."

"Really? That's great Somyot, bring the cutters with the plastic grips. Oh, don't forget the jumper cables, we'll use the fence to zap all the fish at once .We should get a few baht for all that wire once we strip it too!"

Loon.

[jcw]

Exactly nexcron99, this is why it should be booby trapped. Yeah, that'el get em.

[slapout]

I always wanted to use stun gernades on trip wires, just to get them moving, then the fish hooks at knee level. I also wanted to inject random banana wit e-lax as they seem to be a magnet for the needy folk.. But, alas my other half feared we would upset someone.

[jamescollister]

I always wanted to use stun gernades on trip wires, just to get them moving, then the fish hooks at knee level. I also wanted to inject random banana wit e-lax as they seem to be a magnet for the needy folk.. But, alas my other half feared we would upset someone.

If you have electricity, go buy a sensor light, cheap to get and don't hook the light up. Wire it in to an old tape deck, not hard. When anyone sets it off [ dogs normally] have a recording play, ghosts, robbocop, tiger roaring, Doctor who's Darleks saying exterminate. Good for about 6 months to a year. Jim

[pigeonjake]

lol, like that jim,

when i was in enland i poached all my life and my grandfather before me, mostly with dogs after rabbits so wasnt a big problem and in some cases got permition from farmer, but ive known many many gamekeepers and some of there tricks,

fish hooks , planks with nails, you would only want 1 local to stand on that and i dont think you would see another, shot gun cartridge with the shot taken out replaced with rice, in a trip wire banger, it hold the cartridge when the trip wire is triped it lets a firing pin drop to set cartrige off pointed at floor i might add, yes they are supposed to just make a noice,, but ive known keepers put a bit of slate under so that the barley in uk, would shoot off and ancle hieght, as well as making noice,

there is a few things we can do to pretect our property, yes most is fear, ive worked in africa, now think of this, me and my freind were out taking a drive, hot, came accros a lake, shall we go for a swim,??

ive heard there are crocs!!,

i havnt heard that, well i have,, do we go for a swim,?? like hell,, its the fear thing,, let them think they are going to stand on planks with nails, hooks in eyes/skin, show the right people these traps, you dont have to leave them down if you dont want to, but they will stop coming,, the hedge on my land were somone was coming as now grwon all up again,

the fear factor,,,,,, and i wasnt in the SAS,, just had to keep up with gamekeepers, and thats what i am now,,lol

jake

[Gary A]

Whatever will be will be. There won't be any hanging fish hooks, booby traps or boards with nails sticking up on our property. The people most likely to get hurt are kids and I don't like to think about that.

As a side note, a large portion of that ten rai was surrounded with heavy barbed wire to protect the fruit trees. That was there when we bought the property. Today there is no barbed wire. I didn't take any of it down but it has disappeared. I'm sure that kids did not steal the barbed wire. I did find a section of the barbed wire carefully rolled up. I left it there and it too disappeared. We put in a drainage culvert between two rice paddies and had one section of the concrete drainage tile left over. Within a few days it was gone.

I'm not hurt financially but I am sickened that it is like this. Where are the morals? Why do people here feel like they can take whatever they want? I'm sure that there are people in the village who know who the thieves are but they are not talking and even if they did talk, the useless police would do nothing anyways. I can put up with it or leave. Maybe I should be grateful that there is no violent crime. (YET).

[mania]

Sorry Gary that must be very disheartening to have your things go walking like that.

I don't know how it is in your village but in many you would speak with the Poo Yai

& he would put the word out.

Hopefully it gets better for you because it must be very disheartening to feel your neighbors

think your stuff is all up for grabs.

[ozzydom]

A depressing day in a different vein, went to town to stock up today,wished I had stayed in bed.

Ram (lum) price up 60% in a week

Eish food " up 7.5 % " "

Cigarettes (my only remaining bad habit) up 15%

Then ,seeing I was having a bad enough day my pickups air-con compressor seized ,another 10k.

The only saving grace was a pig farmer telling us we were lucky to be in fish as the local factory just dropped the price for 100kg hogs to 54 baht kg.

[cluby]

oil trend is up but many commodities such as iron and rubber are down, it seems a recession is coming fast

[loong]

I've neglected my small organic plot lately, mainly just harvesting the weeds for composting.

Apart from Chilli and eggplants I only had pumpkins growing. Only had one pumpkin nearly ready and a few smaller ones.

Went to get the pumpkin for cooking and they'd gone!

I know that it's a small thing compared to what you have suffered Gary, but bloody infuriating.

Not applicable this time of year, but I swear that one day I will take an axe to the mango tree. I am sick to death of so much of the fruit disappearing.

This is a small village community and so the thieves are probably socialising with us on a daily basis. Mind you, I supposed tht they don't have to worry about losing face, they have another as back-up, 2 faced bastards!

[TommoPhysicist]

I'm not hurt financially but I am sickened that it is like this. Where are the morals? Why do people here feel like they can take whatever they want? I'm sure that there are people in the village who know who the thieves are but they are not talking and even if they did talk, the useless police would do nothing anyways. I can put up with it or leave. Maybe I should be grateful that there is no violent crime. (YET).

Just a guess here, but could the reason be because you are a foreigner and they are Thai.

If you weren't here, then the fruit/fish/etc. would be theirs.

Could it be envy? Do you display more money and wealth than everyone else in the village?

I too live in a rural village, but I am as poor as the locals (as far as they can see), nothing is ever stolen from our farm (in the five years I have been here). The villagers are honest (if dull).

Edited August 28, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[somo]

I'm not hurt financially but I am sickened that it is like this. Where are the morals? Why do people here feel like they can take whatever they want? I'm sure that there are people in the village who know who the thieves are but they are not talking and even if they did talk, the useless police would do nothing anyways. I can put up with it or leave. Maybe I should be grateful that there is no violent crime. (YET).

Just a guess here, but could the reason be because you are a foreigner and they are Thai.

If you weren't here, then the fruit/fish/etc. would be theirs.

Could it be envy? Do you display more money and wealth than everyone else in the village?

I too live in a rural village, but I am as poor as the locals (as far as they can see), nothing is ever stolen from our farm (in the five years I have been here). The villagers are honest (if dull).

I don't think it is a racial thing. Thais do steal from each other too.

A good Thai friend opened a shrimp farm a while back and when it started doing well

jealous relatives poisoned the lot! Plain old jealousy is behind a lot of vindictive acts.

Thais are also opportunistic and love a "freebee"

Edited August 28, 2012 by somo

[jamescollister]

I'm not hurt financially but I am sickened that it is like this. Where are the morals? Why do people here feel like they can take whatever they want? I'm sure that there are people in the village who know who the thieves are but they are not talking and even if they did talk, the useless police would do nothing anyways. I can put up with it or leave. Maybe I should be grateful that there is no violent crime. (YET).

Just a guess here, but could the reason be because you are a foreigner and they are Thai.

If you weren't here, then the fruit/fish/etc. would be theirs.

Could it be envy? Do you display more money and wealth than everyone else in the village?

I too live in a rural village, but I am as poor as the locals (as far as they can see), nothing is ever stolen from our farm (in the five years I have been here). The villagers are honest (if dull).

Don't think being farang makes any difference, if anything the Thais get things taken more often than I.

As the only farang the local shit heads seem to give me a wide berth, but as they say shoot one put a 1000 in fear [joking] though have done the long nights guarding rubber and there have been fire fights on plantations out here. As of yet no one has come to see if I am a plastic Rambo or the real thing. The fear factor helps, plus the family is well connected, for me it is more the chance thieves that see an opportunity grab then run. Only real problem was the bandits from Lao some years ago, they were robbing all along the border and were tooled up, AK47s. Locals put out a bounty and they were never seen again. Jim

[loong]

Bit off topic Jim, but some years back I attended a wedding in a Thai -Lao border village. I left the festivities and went off in search of a shop that sells coffee (well 3in1 and hot water - the best that one can expect) I noticed a few blokes that seemed to be following me. Got my coffee and returned, they continued to follow. Turned out that they were bodyguards that had been assigned to me without my knowledge. A different world.

[jamescollister]

Bit off topic Jim, but some years back I attended a wedding in a Thai -Lao border village. I left the festivities and went off in search of a shop that sells coffee (well 3in1 and hot water - the best that one can expect) I noticed a few blokes that seemed to be following me. Got my coffee and returned, they continued to follow. Turned out that they were bodyguards that had been assigned to me without my knowledge. A different world.

Border lands, not unusual to see guys with automatic weapons in the jungle and not the army. Lots of smuggling and poaching going on. When you can cross the land border into Lao and are safe bad guys will come tooled up and if bad things happen in the jungle no one will ever know. Village is safe, don't have a front door, but after dark on the back roads you want to be local.

Had a German come up here last year, he was setting up a 4 wheel drive club. Took a bunch up camping in the high country. They camped and out of nowhere a Thai/Lao steps into see what they were doing. When he found out they were just camping, out step another 10 armed guys. They never came back to do 4 wheeled trips again.

It is still the jungle, but it's my jungle and home now. Jim

[somo]

"It is still the jungle, but it's my jungle and home now."

Tarzan is alive and well in Isaan

(sorry Jim, just couldn't resist it )

[jamescollister]

"It is still the jungle, but it's my jungle and home now."

Tarzan is alive and well in Isaan

(sorry Jim, just couldn't resist it )

I were big boots and clothes, Tarzan was a big strong man. Jim

[cooked]

How very far from our dear beloved England. .... Everything that isn't screwed down gets nicked in England these days, including rubbish bins.

I live in a small village and generally, when something disappears (including ladies) we get to know 'oo dunnit pretty quick. One guy, fish thief, will never get a job again around here. I am working on the friendly neighbourhood dog poisoner myself, I'll nail the next dead dog to her bloody door. Or screw it, make less noise.

[loong]

How very far from our dear beloved England. .... Everything that isn't screwed down gets nicked in England these days, including rubbish bins.

I live in a small village and generally, when something disappears (including ladies) we get to know 'oo dunnit pretty quick. One guy, fish thief, will never get a job again around here. I am working on the friendly neighbourhood dog poisoner myself, I'll nail the next dead dog to her bloody door. Or screw it, make less noise.

You'll screw a dead dog because it will make less noise

Sorry - couldn't resist it

[cooked]

How very far from our dear beloved England. .... Everything that isn't screwed down gets nicked in England these days, including rubbish bins.

I live in a small village and generally, when something disappears (including ladies) we get to know 'oo dunnit pretty quick. One guy, fish thief, will never get a job again around here. I am working on the friendly neighbourhood dog poisoner myself, I'll nail the next dead dog to her bloody door. Or screw it, make less noise.

You'll screw a dead dog because it will make less noise

Sorry - couldn't resist it

Glad you caught the joke, I must be less subtle in the future.