I have 2 dogs so if anyone tries to steal my fig tree they are in big trouble. I don't see the reason of stealing any types of plant. I have never has anything stolen from my yard thankfully

A cousin of the missus back in Cyprus (in Limassol) caught a thief in the act helping himself to assorted potted cuttings. When challenged, he was utterly shameless and unapologetic. His only excuse was 'well, you've got enough of them, haven't you?' Unbelievable. I wonder if he would accept that as grounds for theft from his own house?

I was out of town a couple of years ago dealing with my Mom's things after she passed and I had a small garden at home and had manged to grow a very nice watermelon...called home to see how the hubby was doing with the kids to find out someone had stolen it... people are crazy..

Hey Rich I know its probably not the easiest thing to do but if the trees are a reasonable  size why not meet at a train station or walmart parking lot or something like that I meet up all the time when buying and selling things off craigslist. 

Never any missing from yard here thankfully.

Hey
Where I was in NJ we used a lot of high tech surveillance equipment which was surprisingly easy to set up and use.  We had more issues with equipment theft than plants.  One item would email and phone you if someone came on the property.  The stuff seem to be affordable too.  We also had a few hunters which were always coming on the property to set up camera to track game.  Doesn't hurt for a would be thief to see a bunch of guys toting guns.

Rich,

I'm moving the cuttings i'm keeping to 3 gallon containers. The extras I do not plan to keep past the end of the year go in 1 gallon... I'm also contemplating >1 gallon grow bags to make distribution easier/cheaper.

Rich if you use Ebay you do local pickup only in shipping and item description and craigslist is cash and carry.

July 18 2009, my wife was at work with our only car. Kids at my moms house. I was inside my home reading when I heard a noise on the front porch. I got up to look out the door to meet a man who thought nobody was home getting ready to kick in the front door. He looked really shocked that I was there like he wasn't expecting it. The man had a little pea shooter, a 25 or 22 cal hand gun that he fierd just once. The bullet hit me in the right upper chest. The round tumbled farther right breaking my shoulder socket and leaving fragments in my chest arm and shoulder. I live in a very small town in the country. Lazy stupid peaple will always try to take what they are unwilling to work for. I made it through combat fight as an army ranger in south america to get shot in my own home during peacetime. Somthing that will never happen again. Always have a way to defend yourself. And if attacked, attack back with intent to kill. Anything less and you become a statistic.

That will do. But a shottie or rifle are a little long to bring up quick. A good knife on the other hand. But then again that's only good if your close enough.

Knife only boar hunting... Just say'n

http://www.theboarsden.com

Sharp stick boar hunting is a real mans sport..

http://www.huntwildpig.com/state-specifics/iowa/

However we digress...

So I was thinking that I will keep my boutique French varities in 15-20 gallon pots and the local NJ varities in ground. That will reduce the chance of opportunistic theft. I have not heard back from the Paterson Farmers Market yet. That might be a way to sell off a few trees that are more common and for the higher end varities I can try ebay or mail order from a web site.

A nice sword will extend your reach if it comes that close

Swords are nice but i prefer not to get that close........lol
Here they meet a 12g semi automatic which can spread a pattern as wide as front door or tight as a fist with a simple twist
of its accu choke.

In yard they meet Louisville slugger .

got a 12g double barrel too but as an ex fencer I just like swords too

garden_whisperer
And if attacked, attack back with intent to kill. Anything less and you become a statistic.                 

*Wrong choice of words: "Intent to kill". Can get you in big trouble.
Your answer should be: "Intent to stop".
You want stopping power. Doesn't matter if you emptied out the magazine on him. Your intent was to stop.


Rich,
I don't know how close or far apart the potted trees are but perhaps chaining three or four at a time might be a deterrent?
More like how prisoners are chained to the ankles together.

I'm talking about the heavy duty ones. With locks of course.
Thought I'd throw that there.

Never really thought about someone stealing my Figs? You would think there would be easier things to steal...Really, I am not worried about it...

Frank,

The theft of fig trees is all too real. Or any other plants material for that matter.

I myself have lost a fig and don't know where or how it went out of my backyard.
Nelson (f4f member) has had some trees from his Toronto area home stolen.

This is beyond low.

Rafed,
In Texas we have the right to defend ourselves and our property. Stop or Kill isn't worried about much. If the buggers want to live they need to stay out of other peoples property!

I had to get a dog.  But I really need to get a fence!   A few years back I was working from home.  As I was washing the dishes, I heard voices in the back yard.  I peaked out the window and down the hill were 2 men walking towards my property.  Then they came to my back porch, stopped talking and starting tampering with the wires on the back of my house.  I ran to my bed room and got my shotgun fully loaded.  Ran back to the kitchen and came out with my gun raised.  They did not see me.  

I jump out on the deck, cocked the gun and said "Freeze or I will plaster your brains all over my brick wall". 

They dropped thier tool and said, "Wait...we work for AT&T and wanted to check and see your cable line". 

I said, "I don't care if you're Pope Francis and came to bless my house, He's not Jesus or God and neither are you two!  You guys did not ask me if you could step on my property or touch my house".  "No more talk!...I'm gonna count to 3 and if you boys aren't walking back up that hill by the time I get to 3, I'm gonna pump your ignorant behinds with lead! 

They said, "sorry Sir, but we really are from AT&T and..."

then I said, One".  And they walked swiftly back up the hill jumped in their truck and took off.

The next day, I reported what happened to the police.

Today, I have a dog but he's just an alarm dog.  A house dog.  He warns me whenever something or someone is outside or near the house.  He also watches my facial expression.   If I say certain words, he will go ballistic looking for intruders.  All I have to say is "who is it?" or "where is he at?"   Then the hunt is on!   If I say, "go get him?"  He will start growling and barking crazy looking for the bad guy!  The funny thing is this dog is a Maltipoo!  His growl is worse than his bite!  We already got a warning from the Post Office about the dog jumping up on the mail lady one day.  But that day all he did was run around her.  But to some people a dog's bark is enough to scare them or keep them away.  And for now, he will have to do.  But I really want a Cattle dog or Doberman.  I'm trying to talk my wife into it but for now she says no.  WIth a cattle dog, I can train it to patrol my figs at night and keep the coons away.    But I really would feel better if I had a fence up.

bump

Did you ever see the fireworks that explode when you simply pull the strings on each side of a firecracker?
Attach one string to the plant (or pot) and the other to a base. When the plant is lifted an inch, a small explosion goes off. This startles the thief and awakens the homeowner.
Another point: Showing off and bragging about what you have can get you robbed! Meet people away from your garden when you sell stuff. And...
Spray paint a section of the plant so you can ID it when recovered to prove it's yours. Plus:
Bury your name & phone # in the soil. To conclude: DO NOT shoot anyone over plants; not worth it.