The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Stereo on May 02, 2016, 08:24:23 pm
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Got a little egg stand, nothing serious but some little blighter has been prying open my cash box. Mostly weekends. I'm pretty sure it's kids and I'm pretty sure I could catch them with determination. It's only ever a pound or 2 once I have emptied it in the evening. Not sure what I would do with them but could probably scare the crap out of them.
So I have to either leave it open and remove eggs at night or I need a better money box. I've got one of the little tin ebay ones but they can be prised with a screwdriver. So I need a more sturdy box and if the thief ups their efforts, so will I. I think it's just kids from the local DSS repository.
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I would report it to the market coordinator and ask the person who is in charge of watching the markets and stalls to keep and eye on it all. Usually when we sell cheese on markets there is always one person on the stall whilst the other goes off, could you ask a fellow stallholder to look after it for you until you come back? We have one of those red boxes with a lock on it, heavy duty and we keep it well hidden, or alternatively you could wear an apron with deep pockets (you can get black ones which go around your waist) or pouch, what we do, and the money is on you then and no one else can get to it :trophy:
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I have my eggs for sale on my doorstep and ask for the money to be put through the letter box, I didn't fancy the idea of a cash box!
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I know it's inflammatory but I'd want to get a camera and present evidence to parents!
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Im with Steph hen. We had a little stand by the gate with excess produce and an honesty box . worked well for two years then some one started helping themselves. So now we sell stuff to people in the village and in the pub. Hoping to get basic veg boxes goinh soon. At least that way you keep control. It's not about the money, it's about honesty . Friends of ours have a camera up and put the offenders on Facebook. That seems to work!
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I know it's inflammatory but I'd want to get a camera and present evidence to parents!
Absolutely! Scare the **** out of them now or they'll think they can get away with stuff like that for the rest of their lives. We have a see-through plastic crate next to the gate with a dish in it. The dogs bark every time someone stops for eggs and I collect the money every evening. The only time it was stolen was when cars were diverted down our lane due to an accident on the main road.
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Baz bought a big plastic pig once and turned it into a giant money box, but some little s@@t came along one day and pinched it. Unfortunately it was closer to the campsite than the house, so out oF earshot. The new one is right outside the house, it's. Just a milk churn so noisy. but if yours is on your doorstep mmm I think yes letter box would be the best solution. But then what they took the eggs? :thinking: Perhaps camera is good idea..
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Just put a sign next to it saying under CCTV surveillance. We used to use one and it was fine everyday including weekends until the school holidays. A lot of kids go through that phase. A lot of them grow up honest so personally I find it easier not to put the temptation there.
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When you empty it at night put a little note inside and give them something to think about - "Your fingerprints have been passed to the police" - although they may run off with your box to get rid of the evidence!
Or what about a mousetrap in there but don't get yourself!
Seriously, isn't it sad that people can't help themselves. My friends set up an honesty box for fruit, veg, eggs etc in the local forest where they live. They caught two adult mountain bikers emptying the money, less than £2, first thing in the morning. My same friends had been involved in a project in China helping poor farmers sell their rice for more and set up an honesty stall with them. They said the box could have the equivalent of a few hundred pounds in it that people could steal easily but in China it doesn't happen apparently.
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In China they're brought up in a better way than a lot of kids in this society, theyre quite a kind sharing people even the poorest children are taught right from wrong. I agree with the others though if you want to sell produce sell it from your doorstep, put a sign up saying what you are selling and if people want to buy it they will. It also removes temptation from people. If not then you could empty it twice or three times in a day. we had rental DvDs stolen from our postbox once :rant: had to send out for more, weirdly though thry posted them back to the sender :roflanim:
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We've got one of these Sentry Safe boxes (http://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/products/locks_latches_and_security/alarms_and_protection/117009/sentrysafe_security_safe/566845), which although not impregnable, would slow them down a bit! I'm thinking bolt it securely to something, and cut a slot in the top for cash to be put in.
(http://products.ironcdn.co/566845.jpg)
I'd definitely go with key only at the cheaper end of things though, as some of the electronic alternatives looked very easy to break into.
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Wbf I think they are selling from there gate and not at a market stall
Just remember if you put up camaras put signs up near by or next to money box
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Yeah, it's out on the road, a way from the house but on a busy junction although on private land so I could CCTV with signs. I empty it every night but some mornings it has been opened. It's not the money so much. It's only a few quid and I do it because people like to buy fresh, local eggs from hens they can see. It's just depressing really. I haven't bothered putting any over for a week or so and that is sad really. I just need them to stop. What a pointless way to get a criminal record.
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It is sad that a little bit of cash that helps feed your hens is such a target for some little s##te who probably doesn't need it. I did voluntary work for a seed company's trial grounds for years and one main job war pulling the "fully out, almost fully out" flowers off of rows of sweet peas to keep the flowers going (and a sweet job it was too) I would pick several bunches of flowers to take home and put in the drive-way at 50p a go to raise a bit of money for Greyhound Rescue.
I noticed a group of children who did a bit of skateboarding well along the road getting nearer and nearer until I found my pudding bowl regularly emptied. I caught the ringleader in the very act of emptying it and marched him--by the ear!-- to his Granny who was minding him. To my amazement, instead of being horrified at his behaviour, she launched into me.....he's only a child...... Well, if he's not checked now how will he be as an adult!........ Bugger off and mind your own business!......I was told.
What hope for youngsters and how sad that we have to guard a few pence!!
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We must have unusually honest folk round here 8). We've had an honesty box at the gate for years and never had any money stolen. I can't lock it as people need change, but they're always honest about that too, or they'll leave a little note saying they'll leave more next time. One lady even phoned me to say she'd taken some eggs but had no money, so would bring it later - but she didn't want someone else to get the eggs while she went for the cash :D. The extra change always turns up. The only person who annoyed me was an old bloke who had a good rummage through my post, in the next box, which is glowingly red and says POST on it. He got an earful for being nosey and never came back :innocent:
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I think 99.99% of my customers are honest but there is little money in roadside eggs and when you come over a couple times a week and find the box broken into again you just feel like giving up. It's pocket money to me but I know it means a lot to my neighbours to buy local eggs. Maybe need to re-locate.
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Is there a way you could have the stall nearer the house? I've just started selling eggs this year and though my neighbours are lovely (I'm in an urban area) there's a few folk round here who seem to think the ideal way of having fun is to make other people's lives miserable. As a result, I didn't even bother putting an honesty box out and have to get people to knock at the door for the product. It's a pain, and limits trade, but I can well imagine coming home to find produce and money gone!
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I could have it near the farm but where it is the perfect spot. A wide bit of road where people can stop and walkers can come from 3 directions to it.
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A long tube, something like 3 ft length of scaffold pole is good. Block up the bottom and chain it to the gate post. Nobody can get their hands down to the money unless you unchain it and tip it up.
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Like that idea. What about notes though? Not that I get many. I could run it through the hedge into our field and into a steel box with some concrete blocks in the bottom. I've got one of those site boxes going spare.