Shoplifting trees? Doesn't sound possible, does it? They're big, tall, attached to the ground, and they don't fit easily under a sweater. But as a product grown entirely out-of-doors, trees are vulnerable to theft. How to protect the merchandise? That's the dilemma facing landowners who grow trees for sale. With timber prices rising, landowners small and large are reporting trees stolen in record numbers. And they have to make the protection of their timber assets a part of their long-term land management plans.

From site preparation to sale, there are security concerns during the entire process of growing and harvesting trees. In order to receive the full yield of their timber, landowners need to address timber security at every step of the way. Just what exactly can go wrong? Misdeeds range from kickbacks, to misrepresenting the source of the load, to tampering with weights in scalehouse fraud, to outright theft of logs in the forest. Opportunities for dishonesty include some items you might not think of, such as skimping on the amount of herbicide applied to the land, or planting fewer acres of trees than the crew was paid to plant. Vandalism is also a threat.

"Most people are honest," says MeadWestvaco's Timber Security Manager, Jerry Stuckey, "but studies show that thirty percent of people will steal given the opportunity. Our job is to reduce that opportunity."

A small landowner might worry more about external theft. But at MeadWestvaco, security concentrates more on internal theft-because it costs more and the potential for loss is higher. Says Stuckey, "Losing even one percent of your inventory is a staggering blow."

Whether you're a small private landowner or a big forest products company, the primary focus of timber security is the same: prevention. Preventing timber theft or vandalism contributes to the bottomline and means more money for the landowner. Several methods are used to prevent timber theft, including accounting techniques, on-site surveillance and tract inspections, and the use of video technology.

Timber security requires an active physical presence. Making visits to the sites, and making changes in procedures, keeps everyone on their toes. "As people skilled in surveillance, former law enforcement officers make good timber security workers, but there's an account aspect to the job as well. A head for numbers helps for this job," says Stuckey. "We actually do quite a bit of auditing."

One proactive way to assure the security of timberland, and perhaps the single most important thing to do, is to mark property boundaries. This reduces risks of accidental or intentional trespass. Painted trees, plowed lines, fences, roads and ditches are common methods of distinguishing one ownership from another. A landowner must periodically maintain all these various delineations in order to continue their effectiveness.

After the boundaries are marked, access to the property should be limited. By erecting a gate or another method of controlling access, landowners indicate their intent, preventing innocent trespass and deterring illegal entry.

When it comes time to sell the timber, the potential for fraud or theft increases. Private landowners can avoid a lot of this by dealing with established, reputable companies. Systematic and frequent on-site inspections of logging operations act as a strong deterrent against dishonest acts. On-site inspections also allow a check for full compliance with all contractual terms, and for the integrity of sale boundaries. Another benefit is that knowing logging contractors and sub-contractors on a first-name basis reduces the risk of dishonest treatment.

If theft does happen, it needs to be investigated. A good timber theft investigator never leaves home without the following items: camera and film, notebook for recording observations and sketching maps, plastic bags for evidence collection, measuring tape, and colored pencils or pens (for recording the location of marked or painted stumps). Once a case is investigated, it's turned over to state or county law enforcement, which will then decide whether to bring the case before the prosecutor. The success rate varies by state. Some states have full-time timber theft investigators and take a hard line on timber theft, while others do not.

"Most people don't think the theft of wood is a big deal, but it can be very valuable. In West Virginia, three good cherry logs can fetch $11,000. It adds up," says Stuckey. "As more and more states recognize the seriousness of timber theft, we should see greater success in prosecution."

It can happen to anyone, from a big forest products company to a small family tree farm. No matter what the size, a strong timber security program can more effectively reduce the risks of theft and fraud. Forest products are valuable and worth protecting. No measure is failsafe, but in the woods, as elsewhere, it's better to be proactive than reactive.

This article was reprinted with permission from the Winter 2001 issue of Forest Focus, a publication of the MeadWestvaco Forest Resources Division.

How Landowners Can Protect Themselves

Most buyers are honest and will give you a good price for your timber, but you can protect yourself against theft and fraud by taking a few precautions.

Watch out if: