theft n. the generic term for all crimes in which a person intentionally and fraudulently takes personal property of another without permission or consent and with the intent to convert it to the taker's use (including potential sale). In many states, if the value of the property taken is low (for example, less than $500) the crime is "petty theft," but it is "grand theft" for larger amounts, designated misdemeanor, or felony, respectively.

Same with Trespassing. The fence or property is marked NO TRESPASSING, & you have seen the signs [or know about them]. BUT there is a hole in the fence, does that mean the property is open to anyone that wants to look around ? NO.

A neighbor buys your house & property, but he determines the house & buildings have been poorly maintained. Does that mean they have been Abandoned ? NO. He bought the property for the property.

You have an old car/truck in your yard that has been Poorly Maintained [it don't run, you don't use it, you might restore it], it must be ABANDONED! Parts are free to anyone that NEEDS/WANTS them, Correct ? NO.

Just because something is Poorly Maintained does not mean it has been Abandoned.

WHATS YOUR POINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HAVE A FEELING THIS IS AIMED AT ME OF COURSE FOR MERELY TAKING A CEMENT POST FROM THE WEEDS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SIMPLY BECAUSE
IT WAS LEFT THERE ABANDONED EVEN THOUGH IT BELONGS TO THE PHONE COMPANY??? THE PHONE COMPANY FROM 50 YEARS AGO? WHICH DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE!!

AS WELL AS THE TRESPASSING ISSUE MENTIONED. I'M SURE THAT ALOT OF US HAVE SEEN AN INTRIGUING PLACE THAT YOU WANTED TO SEE THE INSIDE OF AND FELT COMFY ENOUGH TO TAKE A LOOK AND THEN WENT ON YOUR WAY FEELING ALL THE BETTER FOR TAKING A PEEK. NO HARM DONE EVEN THOUGH
YOU DID TECHNICALLY TRESPASS.

LET'S NOT FORGET THE OLD NON-RUNNING VEHICLE ON "MY" PROPERTY. IT'S NOT ABANDONED! I LIVE THERE, IT'S MINE - I HAVE PROOF OF TITLE. IT'S NOT FOR SALE AND THERE'S A FENCE GOING AROUND MY PROPERTY. STAY OUT UNLESS YOU HAVE AN INVITE! LOL!

CLAY I HOPE THAT CLEARS THINGS UP?!!

THANKS DOC, I THINK I UNDERSTAND NOW.

So DB if you seen a 36 top along side the road you would'nt pick it up? Sorry could'nt resist.

I can understand both points of view on this subject. As have I ever run across an old building and took an item? The answer is yes. Did I feel guilty, afterward? Again the answer is yes. Did I return the item? The answer is .... no.

A number of years ago, one of my parent's neighbors(they lived at the time out in the "woods") found some "treasure hunters" in an old outbuilding on his property that was standing only because a large breeze had somehow missed it. They were loading everything they could find into their truck, until the "gentleman" informed them that he was going to "fill their backsides with birdshot". Not sure what he did with the "treasures", but a few months later a strong breeze came along and the building was a pile of scrap. I'm not sure what was in the building or how long it had been there. I have to admit I was tempted to climb over the barbwire fence and check it out. The only reason I didn't, is because I'm comfortable with my butt the way it is.... The old man wasn't kidding, he would have "peppered my backside" same as theirs even though he knew who I was. Re-reading this, I now wonder if he would have "peppered my backside" because He knew who I was? Not that I ever was a "troublemaker", LOL.

HERE'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF TRESPASSING AND TAKING NOTHING BUT PICTURES...

...A FRIEND OF MINE SAID WHILE HE WAS OUT DIRTBIKING THAT HE RODE THRU A FARMYARD UP THE ROAD FROM ME. HE SAID THERE WAS NOBODY LIVING THERE AT THE MOMENT AND THERE WERE SOME SIGNS IN THE GARAGE AND AN OLD 60'S CAR TO THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK IT. THE HOUSE WAS DEF EMPTY (A RENTAL I THINK) AND THE GARAGE DOORS WERE WIDE OPEN. SO I TOOK A PEEK INSIDE AND SHOT THIS PICTURE OF 2 PRACTICALLY MINT CANADA DRY KICK-PLATE PORCELAIN SIGNS HANGING ON THE WALL.



DID I TAKE THEM? NO....THEY ARE NOT MINE. THEY BELONG TO SOMEONE. I WILL INQUIRE ABOUT THEM PROPERLY.

THE CAR TURNED OUT TO BE A MID-60'S FAIRLANE?


SAD THAT IT'S SINKING INTO THE GROUND...LOOKS TO HAVE FACTORY MAGS MAYBE?

SO THE ONLY BAD THING I DID WAS TRESPASS. BIG DEAL! I WALKED ACROSS SOMEONE ELSES LAWN AND PEEKED IN A GARAGE. HECK THE GAS MAN WAS ON MY FRONT LAWN ONE DAY TAKING PICS OF MY OLD GMC WITHOUT MY OKAY. BUT IT WAS JUST THE GAS MAN. BIG DEAL!

I though that I'd sit back for a bit, and allow this post to mature for a while, before commenting.

Recently, as some of you may know, my company, took over, for another service provider, in our area. One of the NUMEROUS complications/difficulties, in this take over is, some of the customers, seem to think, that because they have had a piece of equipment, for a few years, and that we are the new service provider, THEY own the equipment, that WE purchased, in the take over. Their argument is, that the former company, no loger exists.

True. They dont exist, any longer. However WE have PURCHASED, and OWN, that equipment. It is, without a doubt, that SOMEBODY owns that sign. That makes, your aquisition of it, theft.

Thats, the point.

Don't allot of the items we collect say on them somewhere "Property of....". Without any type of title, how would you be able to prove that you actually own that item and not Sunoco, Exxon, Texaco, etc.? Would a verbal "the owner of the gas station, bulk plant, etc. gave it to me" stand up in court? If it says "Property of..." and you buy it, are you knowingly buying stolen property?

I always questioned that myself archer2.

I'VE BEEN BUGGING A LOCAL TIRE SHOP TO GIVE UP A 18' LONG BF GOODRICH PLASTIC SIGN FOR 2 YEARS. HE SAYS IT BELONGS TO THEM. HOWEVER, THE SIGN JUST SITS THERE AT THE EDGE OF THE PARKING LOT GETTING DIRTY, HIT BY CARS PARKING. SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T CARE OR WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE TO GET RID OF IT.

THUNDER....KEY WORD "ABANDONED!"

So Doc. If a sign, from a now defunct company, falls off your fence, that means its, "ABANDONED!"

And by that definition, somebody can walk across your property, pick up the sign, and take it. And its theirs!

I understand now.

NOPE....NOT THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES...COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCENARIO GOING ON HERE. YOU'RE MAKING UP REDICULOUS STUFF NOW OVER A LITTLE PIECE OF ABANDONED AND FORGOTTEN LABELING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
NOT IN SOMEONES YARD THAT SOMEONE OWNS AND PAID A PRICE FOR AND IS DISPLAYING IT PROUDLY ON PRVATE PROPERTY!

IT'S A GOOD THING I DIDN'T MENTION THAT I PARKED IN A NO STOPPING ZONE TO LOAD UP SAID POST OR I'D BE HUNG FOR THAT TOO.

YOU ARE SPECULATING THAT THE CONDITIONS FROM WHICH I SNAGGED SAID SIGN ARE ILLEGAL AND IMMORAL WHEN BASICALLY I WAS MERELY CLEANING THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OF A POSSIBLE EYE SORE. HOW ABOUT THAT? A POSITIVE NOTE! WELL I'LL BE!

Russ,

Wouldn't that depend on if Mrs. Jacobs, Patton, Bennett, etc was along for the ride? LOL