The Raquel Rose

Bandits in luxury cars stealing pumpkins in Richmond

Dec 18, 2016
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Oak Bay, Victoria
Farmer puts up fence to stop drivers of BMWs and Mercedes vehicles from stealing his crop

People driving the likes of $100,000-plus luxury vehicles are backing into George Gens’ fields and stealing his pumpkins, prompting the farmer to erect fences around his G J Farm in south Richmond.
“I don’t know what to say; it’s hard. People look through, grab, that’s why we have to put a fence up,” said Gens, who immigrated to Canada in 1989 from Paraguay, where he was raised on a family farm.

“It’s not that they take pumpkin, it’s that they steal. I grew up in small place; no one steals; they need food, they ask. I don’t mind.
“If they come to us, they cannot afford, I will give it to them. I see many people; they are poor. They need something, I say take, take, it costs me $2,” said Gens.

But, “it breaks my heart to see a car — $80,000 — come and steal,” said Gens, whose rental fence cost $1,600.
This, he hopes, should prevent the BMW, Range Rover and Mercedes vehicles from accessing his fields. But many, he said, still seem undeterred as they move the fence's emergency exit to back their vehicles in.

Gens said he has only experienced the theft at such rates over the past four years.

“First we put a sign, ‘No Trespassing,’ and then we put a sign in Chinese and English. But people don’t care, they go right into the field and steal,” said Gens, noting all his big pumpkins have been stolen.
“When you see someone steal something that pleases everybody, I’m not too happy,” said Gens, who wakes up most days at 4:30 a.m. to start work on his 85-acre vegetable farm.

Gens said from his home he hears the vehicles come in at night, after his dogs start barking at them. He said even during the day he's confronted some thieves, who proceed to claim ignorance. He said he's recently installed cameras, hoping to catch the perpetrators.
Fellow verteran farmer Bill Zylmans told the Richmond News theft is a unique problem in Richmond.

This week, the City of Richmond launched a social media campaign to “Respect Our Farmers.”
“We’ve been working with local farmers for a number of years . . . to address ongoing issues around vandalism, theft and other conflicts between the general public and farmers,” said city spokesperson Ted Townsend.
“This year, local farmers have raised additional concerns about problems being caused by motorists stopping to observe the ongoing harvest” and/or “helping themselves to farmers’ crops,” added Townsend.

At G J Farm, 11300 No. 4 Road, pumpkins are priced from $5-10 for a good-sized, plump Jack O'Lantern.- richmondnews.com

 

jgg

In the air again.
Apr 14, 2015
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People have no respect for our property. Sleds, quads, 4x4s even small boats in some of the wetlands. Either they don't think or don't care, but it is just a place for them to rip around on. Worse still should they hit any of our equipment we could be held liable. Go figure.
 

PierreCoeur

??? MONKEY MEMBER
May 26, 2013
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Surrey
I blame Tim Hortons and Starbucks for their pumpkin spiced lattes. Before that rich people had no clue what a pumpkin was. With their car payments and latte purchases they can't really afford to pay for a Jacko lattern.
 

sybian

Well-known member
Dec 23, 2014
3,404
735
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Kamloops B.C.
People have no respect for our property. Sleds, quads, 4x4s even small boats in some of the wetlands. Either they don't think or don't care, but it is just a place for them to rip around on. Worse still should they hit any of our equipment we could be held liable. Go figure.
Up here people run across protected grasslands, and do not stay on the trail system

I had a dirt bike rip into my place 16 years ago, and he realized he was on private property.
He did a rooster tail outta here up a hill with timber grass growing on it......his trail is still there 16 years later.
It is clearly posted that all around me is government range, and protected, fragile, natural grasslands....this is not rainforest, and not the lower mainland, but a unique ecosystem.....and we now have enough erosion from wildfires.
It's also clearly posted to not enter the highland alpine country, for any reason, but most people in their nice clean 4x4 trucks just put it on ignore.
As for stealing product that I own and produce.....I've found the remains of cattle I and others own, butchered, and the sides of beef taken......and people ask me why I ride and walk in the range country armed.
 

MissingOne

awake but not woke
Jan 2, 2006
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It's also clearly posted to not enter the highland alpine country, for any reason, ...
Not even on foot? I love walking in the alpine country.
 

jgg

In the air again.
Apr 14, 2015
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Varies now
Not even on foot? I love walking in the alpine country.
Ask permission and most farmers/ranchers will happily give it to you. Leave only your breath and footprints.
 

Ms Erica Phoenix

Satisfaction Provider
Jun 24, 2013
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In Your Wildest Dreams!
I blame Tim Hortons and Starbucks for their pumpkin spiced lattes. Before that rich people had no clue what a pumpkin was. With their car payments and latte purchases they can't really afford to pay for a Jacko lattern.
Pumpkin spice has NOTHING to do with squash. It's the spices you add to the pumpkin to get the pie to taste like dessert: allspice, nutmeg & cinnamon! Personally, I am not a fan. I don't like pumpkin pie: never have. Now, the secret REALNAME family birthday cake is pumpkin spice cake with walnuts & orange frosting, & I start craving that about a week before my birthday every year!

People who can afford $80k cars can pay for their damn pumpkins!
 

sybian

Well-known member
Dec 23, 2014
3,404
735
113
Kamloops B.C.
Not even on foot? I love walking in the alpine country.
I'm talking about at the moment due to the largest wildfire BC has ever recorded....holes left in the road, and falling trees to name a few safety reasons.
Not to mention it is in some areas ,it's still an active fire.
In normal circumstances even the protected alpine can be traversed on foot or horseback.....keep in mind that even the most remote alpine areas have been affected by fire, and what root system is left , and there is little of it, will take years to recover.
 
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