Dump Dilemma

[logueb]

The old dump that I have dug in for many years is being invaded by dump jumpers. Ironically, it's dosen't appear to be bottle diggers!! Instead it's metal scrappers. I went one day during the holidays to find every scrap of metal that I had been piling up lately was picked clean. The old car chassis, metal parts, cast iron stove parts were gone. A few days later I ran into two of the metal scrappers and confronted them about the missing metal. They claimed to know nothing, but blamed it on a man and woman that they saw at the dump. One claimed to be the grandson of the deceased owner of the adjoining property and said he was working for his Aunt. Well, where they were scrapping was not on the grandfather's property, and I informed them. I never realized that old rusted metal was that valuable. I used to just leave it in the tailings of the dig.
So, here's the dilemma. The land does not belong to me, it belongs to the city. My permission is not with the entire current administration. The police are aware of my hobby and have never caused me any problems. I was hoping that after all the scrap that I dug was gone, that they would leave. But it's not happening.
Went to see if the snow and ice had melted enough to dig yesterday after work. I'm taking a picture of the ice and this guy shows up out of nowhere. I didn't realize that he was in the picture until today. Spooky.

 

[logueb]

Not only did they pick up all the metal around the rim of the dig area, they are going through the tailings looking for scrap metal. This is not my hole. About four feet deep.

 

[logueb]

I'm not sure how they knew that metal was that deep. But hopefully this is what they were after and not bottles.

 

[old.s.bottles]

To be honest, I think you both have equal rights to the dig area. They obviously invested some time trying to the find the spot just as you did. Just my opinion. If I were you, I would get to digging before they do. Maybe you can work out a deal where you guys meet up and dig together, they take the metal and you take the bottles.

 

[logueb]

So for now I'm tring to decide how to handle the situation. Do I leave them all the metal and hope that they will not destroy any bottles in their quest for the metal? Do I try to make a deal with these guys? Or just move on and locate another dump and kiss this one goodbye for now? Has any of the other dump diggers run into similiar things at their dumps? Buster

 

[SAbottles]

You may have to take a leaf out of Cryptic's book and pour in gasoline and add a match, preferably not while they're still in the hole ! []

 

[mr.fred]

Buster i would let them have the metal and you keep on digging[8|]---no sense in making waves[]-----if you push it---- you both may loose out.[] Play it by ear[]. Just my Humble opinion. Mr. Fred[&:] Go off Radar for awhile !!!

 

[sandchip]

Hard to say how to handle things concerning the bottles and metal, but for your own good, you need to be packing. They may be harmless, but always be prepared.

 

[logueb]

Thanks for the replies . I agree with Mr. Fred, too many waves would probably get me thrown out as well. And Jimbo has a good point also because these guys are like ghosts, they appear out of nowhere. I have talked with these guys a couple of times and they only seem interested in the scrap metal. I was just wondering if anyone else had had this type of experience since the price of scrap metal was on the rise. Buster.

 

[cowseatmaize]

You mentioned a car chassis, did they get a flat bed in there?