Stuart wrote in message
...
Poaching my nectarine tree
In Melbourne, Australia he would be regarded as being a
thief, but I doubt our Police would charge him or that a
Court would convict him because he seemed to have
open access to your nectarines.

Did he have to open a gate to enter, etc?

Poaching can be a criminal activity, if a LEO observes the act but in
this case I would have needed to make a citizen's arrest, pressed
charges of tresspassing, and followed through with the court costs.

The tree is 10' away from the public sidewalk, clearly on my property,
but out front, so neither person needed to enter through a gate or hop a
fence.

We exchanged a couple phrases about his pruning tactics
and I strongly requested the eight nectarines he'd packed
away in his jogging suit pockets.

I'm nit picking now but perhaps you could have developed
a more friendly dialogue with him. Because now after you
have demanded the return of the eight nectarines he will
probably return but be more secretive in future.

Well, yes and no. I _was_ willing to part with the fruit in a more
friendly manner but I'd've really preferred to have an undamaged tree.
That was just unwanton destruction on his part, and that's what ticked
me off...

In any case, the second jerk I squirted seems to have sent word about
the neighborhood that I'm a crank and, as such, not to be messed with.
Poaching is down to zilch and I'm now watching the remaining fruits
mature. The few I've enjoyed thus far have been magnificent!

The Ranger