Man stealing my lemons

[Connie]

I have a lemon tree, my husband planted years ago, in my back yard. It is growing near the east wall of the property. The lemons are just now beginning to really turn yellow and will be ready to harvest soon.

The tree is probably 8 feet tall and produces more lemons that I can use, so I share with friends, family and neighbors. Well, I was outside doing some minor yard work, it finally warmed up into the low 70's today, when I noticed a man with a long pole that had a net of the end of it, picking lemons off the tree. He looked to be a maintenance man that worked the property behind me. He was reaching over the block wall that separated us, with this long pole with net. I yelled at him "what are you doing"? He replied, I'm only taking one. Well, when I really looked at the tree, there were no lemons at all back there. Only six lemons were remaining in the front part of the tree near ground level. So, I know that he took more than one. As there were at least 80 or more lemons growing on there last month.

He sure had a lot of nerve. As I said, the tree gives more fruit that I can use, and I do share with others, but I like to be the one to pick and give them away.
The property behind me, is a Convalescent Hospital and I'm sure the man is one of their maintance workers.

[JoGee]

Can you go to the home and discuss it with their administrators?
Try to get some pictures of the man, especially using that net.
Give the picture to the police, if necessary.

[karlinann]

Oh, doesn't that just make you so angry, that the low life would steal from you. The nerve of some people. I don't think the police will do much since he will be extra careful from now on not to get caught. I know it breaks your heart to know that mankind is not always kind. Hugs to you Connie.

[spring]

Unbelievable...of all the nerve! He needs to be outed...put his picture in the paper. Caption reads...Caught in the act! Shame on him.

[Pat B]

Connie - if this man is on the property of the Convalescent hospital while committing the act of stealing your lemons, you need to report it to the administration. And DEFINITELY get a picture next time!

[JoGee]

Once you report him to thevAdministration and get his picture (by the way, if reported to the police, they will do drive-bys by your property), hang a sign on that side of the tree "THOU SHALL NOT STEAL!"

[Connie]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm just so angry at this man for just taking the lemons. If he would have come and knocked on the door, I would have given him a bag full. I live at the end of the cul-de-sac and the tree is not visible to anyone coming to the front of the house.
He was definitely on the Hospital's property and leaning over a 8 foot tall block wall (that we had built 45 years ago) with this long pole that had a white net attached. I could only see him from his chest up. The net was cone shape, like those butterfly nets -- I don't know what he used to cut the fruit from the branch -- maybe just knocked them off. "I'm only taking one", he said. Ya sure.

I haven't gone over to talk to the Administrator of the Hospital, but if I see him doing it again, I will -- just to let them know what kind of an employee they hired.

[spring]

Take his picture Connie.....shame him with a big letter "T" for Thief. (like in the movie, The Scarlett Letter ).

[JoGee]

Hmmmmmm. Is it legal to take a picture of someone in the process of stealing, and (1) have it published in the newspaper?, and/or (2) print flyers and post them in businesses and around town?

[Nalani]

I hope you can catch the thief, Connie. My parents and now Patty have had people stealing fruit and flowers in Hana. They all would of gladly given when asked. But I would say most people come to the door and ask.

[Connie]

I guess this act happens all over, but it is a first for me. I have a Los Angeles police detective as a neighbor and I thought about asking for his opinion. His back yard also shares the property line with the Conval. Hospital. When talking with my daughter, she says to just let it go. My son lives on a corner lot, in another town, and they have had people come pick their flowers and someone even dug out a plant right out of the ground. Such low life !