What to do about an Oil Thief
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
Joined
·
261 Posts
First off, is your oil in container that you put there or is it being taken out of a dumpster? I would try maybe leaving a note or something to try to let the person know that they are taking "claimed" oil before you do something devious. Just my $0.02
[ QUOTE ]
First off, is your oil in container that you put there or is it being taken out of a dumpster? I would try maybe leaving a note or something to try to let the person know that they are taking "claimed" oil before you do something devious. Just my $0.02
[/ QUOTE ]
No, it is low volume . The owner puts the oil out for me in the containers at midnight twice a week and I go by at 6 am. I am pretty sure who is stealing it. He came by and tried to get the owner to start letting him pick it up but was refused.
I think 5 lbs of sugar would either plug up his processsor or injectors assuming he just runs WVO.
First off, is your oil in container that you put there or is it being taken out of a dumpster? I would try maybe leaving a note or something to try to let the person know that they are taking "claimed" oil before you do something devious. Just my $0.02
[/ QUOTE ]
No, it is low volume . The owner puts the oil out for me in the containers at midnight twice a week and I go by at 6 am. I am pretty sure who is stealing it. He came by and tried to get the owner to start letting him pick it up but was refused.
I think 5 lbs of sugar would either plug up his processsor or injectors assuming he just runs WVO.
Joined
·
261 Posts
Then flay him and spray him with vinegar. Approaching the restaruants is the hardest part. People need to do it themselves and not steal for those that choose to go the "front door route"
Good luck
Good luck
Communication would go a long way, but somewhere along the lines.... folks forget about the most wonderful tool around.
Just know that if you play devious, so could the other person. Then you have 2 bad diesel yard ornaments and two really, really ticked off people... who just might shoot someone.
- cause come on, these days.... why talk when you can shoot someone. On the news all the time.
:-/
Just know that if you play devious, so could the other person. Then you have 2 bad diesel yard ornaments and two really, really ticked off people... who just might shoot someone.
- cause come on, these days.... why talk when you can shoot someone. On the news all the time.
:-/
I agree with communication. It is very easy to fly off the handle and do something you will regret 10 minutes latter. I have done it, is not worth it. I would begin the communication process. Yes you have to be the bigger man and start the communication. If this does not work. Ask the owner of the resturant if you can install a locking system. But the down side of that is, locks only keep out honest people.
If you are leaving a barrel you can lock it (just make sure the lid has no bungs or else he'll just unscrew the bungs)- there are barrel cinch rings which accept a small padlock. If he cuts the lock and he's already been uncooperative in communicating, it's probably an arrestable little offense depending on how much your town cops have to do with their time.
Dumpsters are even easier to lock.
Mark
Dumpsters are even easier to lock.
Mark
[ QUOTE ]
Ya'll ain't got guns in Texas? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, but I don't want to be tied up with all the paperwork /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif
The owner can not have a barrel or dumpster since it is in a strip center. He just puts it back in the 5 gallon caddy and gives it to me twice a week. This turd has figured out the schedule and runs by in the middle of the night to steal it.
Ya'll ain't got guns in Texas? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, but I don't want to be tied up with all the paperwork /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif
The owner can not have a barrel or dumpster since it is in a strip center. He just puts it back in the 5 gallon caddy and gives it to me twice a week. This turd has figured out the schedule and runs by in the middle of the night to steal it.
If communicating doesn't work maybe you could give the owner a cable lock so they can tether the containers to a post or something. I guess if they are desparate they can cut the cable. I suspected someone was dipping into our barrel that we provided for a group of restaurants to share. We ended up putting one of those drum rings around the top and locking it.
Good luck!
Rich
Good luck!
Rich
Joined
·
497 Posts
If the guy can't keep it iside maybe you could build a small lock box that looks nice enough to keep back there that will fit the oil bins. If you cable them up the guy may get mad and add something to your oil. Or you could just fill some bins with water just for fun.
-Rob
-Rob
I had a related incident once. Basically right after I signed up a new source and they cancelled thier contract with the rendering company, about 3 weeks later someone went by and vandalized my barrel. THey didn't just knock it over, they dragged it all over the place and spread the oil as far and wide as they possibly could. The owner of the shopping center was none too pleased but she did have her handyman take care of the cleanup (the restaurant lady called me to let me know what was going on but it was pretty much cleaned up before I even got there).
To add insult to injury they stole my barrel (it as a purty blue one with a nice bright "safety yellow" rain gaurd type lid) in addition to making the mess.
After that I said never again with the oil outside. I talked to the restaurant lady (who was now committed to never go back to that rendering company since she suspected one of their drivers may have been behind the whole thing) about calling me when the oil is changed and I just swing by on the day they change the oil. It's on my way home from work so it's easy.
Having done this for a while now, at this point I don't really want to fart around with oil being left outside any more. I'm not clear on whether it was a random vandal or something more sinister (a message from the rendering co???) No plans to find out by leaving oil outside at this point. PLus... once you get this setup going you'll never go back to barrels/dumpsters.
Good luck getting the restaurant people on board with holding it inside for you. In no case would you want to fall to the level of ruining someone's motor over him stealing a few cubes of oil. Even if you succeeded in scaring the guy away to a point where he never sought revenge, you'd feel bad about it later. Just sidestep the problem altogether by moving it inside.
Charlie
To add insult to injury they stole my barrel (it as a purty blue one with a nice bright "safety yellow" rain gaurd type lid) in addition to making the mess.
After that I said never again with the oil outside. I talked to the restaurant lady (who was now committed to never go back to that rendering company since she suspected one of their drivers may have been behind the whole thing) about calling me when the oil is changed and I just swing by on the day they change the oil. It's on my way home from work so it's easy.
Having done this for a while now, at this point I don't really want to fart around with oil being left outside any more. I'm not clear on whether it was a random vandal or something more sinister (a message from the rendering co???) No plans to find out by leaving oil outside at this point. PLus... once you get this setup going you'll never go back to barrels/dumpsters.
Good luck getting the restaurant people on board with holding it inside for you. In no case would you want to fall to the level of ruining someone's motor over him stealing a few cubes of oil. Even if you succeeded in scaring the guy away to a point where he never sought revenge, you'd feel bad about it later. Just sidestep the problem altogether by moving it inside.
Charlie
If he keeps it inside , he is in violation.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
We will try. The only problem is the health department will tag him for it if they catch him /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
what health inspector is on the job at 12am to 6 am? now that is dedaction?
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
We will try. The only problem is the health department will tag him for it if they catch him /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
what health inspector is on the job at 12am to 6 am? now that is dedaction?
[/ QUOTE ]
Buy an X10 camera or similar along with a cheap recorder. Put the recorder inside (Wireless is cheap these days) and get him on tape. Two cameras would be better. Also offer to install a motion light, these can make a thief wonder what other deterents may be in place. Once you get him on tape then go to the local authorities or better yet the local Fire Marshall. If you can get his truck plates on tape it would be even better. You probably wont even have to prosecute once he knows that he has been caught. The simple way to handle this would be to pay a pro to beat the HELL out of him. You know the aprox time the guy is stealing the oil so it dowsnt sound like it would be hard to catch him.
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
