We were robbed :( Crowdfunding

Hello all, I hope this is ok to post here.
Wish everyone is well!

My name is Priscila and my husband is Rui.
We are a couple from Portugal and last year we took the plunge: we sold our house, paid the bank, bought some land and started planning.
Things have been going very slowly because my husband is working full time, but we still have the mornings free to do some stuff. He used all of his vacation time for the move.
We've encountered SO MANY roadblocks, but still we're perseverating because this has been a dream for so many years...
We are living 10 minutes away from the land in a rented house while we set everything up (totally off grid) and since we ran out of money, we have been buying and gathering materials every month, as we can, with the help of my husband's grandma.

We live on Portuguese minimum wage for 2 people, 5 amazing dogs and 3 cuddly cats, it only covers the basic bills, which is enough for us, we're simple people.

This past Friday, as we arrived at our land, we saw the shipping containers we have there (to convert into housing, we were still gathering the final supplies to start and waiting on the welder to come cut the window openings and weld the frames) had been opened and everything worth a cent was taken.
We believe we interrupted them because we arrived at an unusual time for us to be there... there was also a suspicious car with 2 women on the phone on the main road, half blocking the entrance to our path. We believe they were on the phone with the thieves and they took off when we arrived, abandoning some metal beams on the ground.
Once our family heard about the theft, they told us they will no longer be helping with anything (although this was gut wrenching to hear, we kind of understand why. Still, they could have waited a few days to give us this news and not right on top of our desperation).

As you can imagine, the shock and pain, the feeling of being violated on our space and having lost 15 thousand euros of materials, tools and machinery was overwhelming.
I couldn't cry and started hyperventilating. We called the cops, a CSI type team came to collect trace, but it's not like in the shows and they got NOTHING.

Our first thought was to abandon the project and sell what was left. I even had some dark thoughts.
But after collecting ourselves and thinking it over, we decided we're not going to be victims, we're going to be FIGHTERS.

This was an eye opener on so many levels, so not everything was bad. (got to find those twists in there and learn something).
I'm feeling as badass as ever. Even more than ever!

But... (there's always a but, right?)
We need your help so that we can get back on our feet and replace what was taken, asap.
For mental health reasons, I can't work a full time job for a very long time (I can go into detail via PM).
There is nothing left from my husband's salary 3 days after he's paid (we're not spenders, but a Portuguese minimum salary is a bad joke).

Would you please help us by donating something? Even a little would be so very welcome!!

Among the so many things that keep popping into my mind, they took:
a Genergy Natura 7000W generator, without it, we're powerless to operate electrical tools, like welder, cutter, drill, etc. and proceed with turning the containers into a home... (and consumables, about 1050 euros)
all of our electrical material (electrical wires, plugs, switches, lights, electrical box and everything that goes inside, ply wall boxes, etc) (about 1000 euros)
an OutBack inverter and some solar equipment... (1300 euros and up, I still didn't have the strength or time to check what was left)
all of my hand tools that I had since I was 16/17 (I'm 43) we currently don't even have a screwdriver... (priceless, but about 400 to 500 euros to replace) I had a hammer in there that was a heirloom
a ground drill by Garland to dig for fencing (260 euros)
a small chainsaw by Garland (240 euros)
Water pump (70 euros)
all water pipes and connectors inox and pvc  (1000 euros)
boxes full of loose tools and accessories, netting, farming knickknacks, etc. (around 300 euros)
A full roll of chicken wire (70 euros)
2  brand new greenhouses that arrived the day before (210 euros)
2 ladders ( A ladder + multipositions ladder with platforms) (300 euros)
All of the IKEA kitchen cabinet hinges (150 euros)
scythe, axe, pick axe, and so much more!
masonry tools (50 euros)
chisels and related tools
Extension chords (50 euros)
circular water heather stuff and accessories (120 euros)
cast iron heather vents and "hat" (200 euros) (we still didn't look to see if the heater itself was taken as it was at the furthest back of the container and had rolls of fencing over it and we've been dealing with police and gathering invoices and so on)
all of our (hand) farming tools, 3 dustpans, a broom that was falling apart and a roll of trash bags... (300 euros)

Everything we'd been buying and gathering for the last year. Some stuff without invoices, just over the counter quick grabs...
screws and nuts of all kinds and sizes...
they took my tripod and ring light we were using to film and shed some light inside the back of container until it had some windows, so we could start work... (60 euros)

they even took our shit bucket and the toilet paper...

we estimate our losses to be at around 15.000 euros...

everything was BRAND NEW in packaging or used once or twice...

As you can imagine, we're devastated and don't know how to come up from all of this.
It's been a heck of a month. I just got up to get some ice and the freezer is dead. Haha, gotta laugh at all of this...

I started a YT channel to document all of the transformation, with the good and the bad, I just never expected to be launching it based on this happening.
We were holding back on releasing videos until at least we had the ground container finished to avoid all of this hell... The channel will be multi lingual, but it's still in Portuguese for now, but I'll make a video in English for my English speaking friends

(here you go: https://youtu.be/V9g2vPUQBtc)

Apparently our village has a Spanish gypsy that comes over for the month of August to steal everything he can (the immigrants come home to visit family and spend time and relax on security), so this guy stocks up and leaves for the remainder of the year.  No one thought to warn us...

So, after all of this, would you kindly help us lift back up? Our paypal is paypal.me/SindiGato or flyawaysyt@gmail.com

This has been the most expensive lesson of all of my life, but not all was bad because I got to get in touch with a lot of emotions and rethink a lot of things...

The police was called, they know who did it, but can't prove it. They say it will almost impossible to retrieve our stuff.

If you want to see proof of anything, please PM or email me, I'd rather not share those publicly, also because this is an open investigation...

Too Long Didn't Read: everything we had got stolen and we need help getting back up on our feet.

Sorry to hear of your loss.
If the cops know who did it, why dont they just raid their place, some bits may be still there.
If I knew who it was, I would either talk to them or via someone else and just explain you are struggling and the loss of the gear is a big blow.
Mention that if some stuff could come back that would be appreciated. IE Generator.
If they sell it they will not get much. Even offer to purchase if that does not work.
I can tell you I have done it for others and had a bit of success. Its arranged so dignity is maintained and identity is not revealed.
SECURITY FOR NOW
In England 'poachers' alarms are available and by using a tripwire a 12 gauge empty shotgun cartridge can be fired as a warning.
https://tripalarms.com/
Some ideas for the future;
- fix up one container so its like a tent, but you can live in it.
- Move onto the property full time.
- capture water and store for use with showers and cooking.
- Use a chemical toilet.
- create blocklocks for the containers to minimise chances of padlocks being cut.
- think about a remote camera
- have a secure gate.
Then work to roof one container and get it nice , then the other and slowly get back on your feet.
Instead of welding, cutting and bolting may be ok.
And be there at the block as much as you can until the security is better.
I too have had to deal with mental health issues and can get down, but I somehow have learnt to be optimistic and do not look at anything as a problem.
I look at it as an opportunity!
I work on one thing at a time for the moment, but may be working on 6 projects at the same time.
IE digging holes by hand shovel because the machine will not penetrate the soil, I dig as far as I can which may be 100mm, fill the hole with water, and go and do something else.
Later I get back to the hole and remove what soil I can even if its 50mm, then repeat for as long as it takes.

Good luck.

Hello John,

thank you so much for your reply and care.

we have since installed a cam inside the container. It's not the perfect solution, but since it's an infrared camera, it would be easily detected outside. It's a cam we already had, but that we took to search for our cat that week as she was lost after family came to visit... it's been one of those months, you wouldn't believe it!

If the cops know who did it, why don't they just raid their place, some bits may be still there. - I have given them an address of where my stuff is, it's a fencing warehouse, only short of the actual house number. It was an anonymous tip and the person said "between here and there", it was like 5 houses long and they were contiguous houses. I looked at them in google maps and you can see some suspicious looking guys in front of a garage/warehouse door. The thief is known to the police and I can't get into further detail in permies, I hope you get the gist...

If I knew who it was, I would either talk to them or via someone else and just explain you are struggling and the loss of the gear is a big blow. - this was going to be our strategy, but we were told this was premeditated, we were "sold out" by a person who worked with us on the land, according to the same anonymous caller. This sounds like a bad movie, it's incredible! We were told that we were so lucky to arrive after they had already gotten what they came for, otherwise we might not even be here to tell, so these aren't people who care if you live or die... the police is afraid of them, so you can do your math... we're calling it all a loss by now.
It was like a hired theft, they had most of my stuff already sold even before they got there.

I can tell you I have done it for others and had a bit of success. Its arranged so dignity is maintained and identity is not revealed. - we considered doing this, but like I said before, it was pre-sold. there is not much dignity in these people to start with. But they do go to church on Sundays and are very religious.

In England 'poachers' alarms are available and by using a tripwire a 12 gauge empty shotgun cartridge can be fired as a warning. - we could face jail time here for that, it's unbelievable. If you hurt the thief while they are stealing, YOU face jail time and compensation for the rest of their lives. You can't protect what is yours, it's just crazy... it's called private property but only for tax matters...

Some ideas for the future;
- fix up one container so its like a tent, but you can live in it. - we're doing that as soon as we can get a generator to start the work and we'll be doing it ourselves...
- Move onto the property full time. - as soon as the previous condition is met.
- capture water and store for use with showers and cooking. - we're getting a well ready.
- Use a chemical toilet. - or a composting one
- create blocklocks for the containers to minimise chances of padlocks being cut. - I came up with something better than that, locking from the inside, but I need power to be able to weld.
- think about a remote camera - one is inside of the container and we're looking into getting a few more.
- have a secure gate. - oh man, if you only knew... we have a path that goes through our land, but I'm looking for legal advice already, because the contiguous lands can be accessed by the other side of the path, so I think I can close my sides, but need to look into that a bit better.
Then work to roof one container and get it nice , then the other and slowly get back on your feet.
Instead of welding, cutting and bolting may be ok. - still need power to drive bolts through, I guess...?
And be there at the block as much as you can until the security is better. - we go there every day, they were monitoring us!!

I too have had to deal with mental health issues and can get down, but I somehow have learnt to be optimistic and do not look at anything as a problem. - I'm much better now and am without meds, they were causing the problem. As long as I don't have to be near other people for long periods of time, I'm fine. I'm feeling super positive right now and am feeling more motivated than ever!
I look at it as an opportunity! - It is!! Believe me, I was able to learn A LOT from all of this!
I work on one thing at a time for the moment, but may be working on 6 projects at the same time. - tell me about it! )
IE digging holes by hand shovel because the machine will not penetrate the soil, I dig as far as I can which may be 100mm, fill the hole with water, and go and do something else. - clever!!

Good luck. - Thank you!!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you, Priscila. I hope you can build up again, knowing now that better security is needed at times when this person is in the area.
I also hope there was plenty of shit in the bucket they stole! What sort of person steals a shit bucket, for heaven's sake?

Yes, it was a sad lesson you learned but an important one.
You both are unharmed.   Your property has been violated but not defiled.
They could have dumped your bucket inside instead of stealing it.  
I agree with Jane, what idiot steals a poop bucket?
They set you up, cased all your nice stuff, and took advantage of the new guys.
Shame on them!   And hopefully, a long painful jail term if they ever get caught!

I suspect that you will be much more aware in the future.
No matter how much we would like/expect people to be honest, fair, and kind.
There is always a greedy asshole wanting to take what you have.

After you move on your land I suggest getting a large dog.
Not a biting dog or you will be paying for the crook's medical bills.
But a Mastiff-type dog who will perform "Bark and hold" on trespassers.
Nothing like a hip tall #150 dog with its ruff up  circling you barking ferociously to make greedy people go somewhere else!

18 Volt battery tools are readily available and are very good.
Are they trying to drive you away.
Alter your medication rather than go off it, people react differently to the medication but none is unwise.

If I were you, I'd move onto the property right now. My husband and I lived in a tent and built our house with hand tools. We had absolutely no electricity, except one battery for the cordless drill that we had to bring into town to charge. So we got one or two sessions with the drill a week.

If you move onto the property, you'll be able to keep an eye on things and save all the money you're currently paying on rent. You'll be able to afford that generator sooner.

We've had some thefts here, too. It's just an unfortunate part of living rurally. I was amazed at the stuff they took, too. I've since decided, from looking that the type of stuff that gets dumped on our property (another unfortunate part of rural living) that thieves just pack up absolutely everything they can get their hands on and get the job done quickly. Later on, they sort through it and dump the stuff they don't want.

Sorry to hear. At the Crescent City Food Forest we had shipping containers broken into multiple times by some human paraquat, to whom I would have gladly given the food we would have grown with the tools they stole (harvests were largely given away to those in need in the community). At one point after the third of fourth theft, I went back into the woods where I suspected the thieves were, looking for blood with my brush ax and hori-hori. In hindsight I am glad I did not find anyone!

I agree with the suggestions to live on site and get a big guardian dog. I never had problems with people, predators, or herbivores with my Great Pyrenees-Akbash, Willie, on-site. He is also one hell of a good snuggle.

Add another vote for at least one good, and preferably large, dog.  I went a little different route than Thomas, I have dogs that will absolutely bite you if you come on my property uninvited.  I have signs up to hopefully keep anyone from being bitten, and to keep from being sued.  My signs say things like "Livestock guard dogs on duty", and "DO NOT leave vehicle without escort".  I also live in a rural area where, if you are bitten by someone's dog, people are likely as not going to say "what did you do to the dog?"  People here believe in and respect your right to do as you wish on your property for the most part.  If you are on someone's property uninvited and get bitten, you won't get much sympathy generally.  This varies very much from place to place of course.  I have no idea how people in your area feel about this.

Wow, Trace what state are you in?

20 years ago things were like that around here.
And for quite a few of us it still is.
However, with the influx of new folks around things have changed.

As an example our Justice of peace.   He had a fenced backyard.
He owned a male heeler-type dog. It, as most heelers are known to bite strangers or anyone walking away from one.
He had signs up warning beware of the dog.

The burglar must not have read the sign...
The dog bit the crook extensively as he was attempting to climb thru a  window...  
Police were called, and the man was taken to the doctor and then booked in jail for attempted robbery...

The lawyer for the crook promptly sued the JP for damages, pain, and suffering as well as mental "trauma" from the scary bad doggy... Doing his Job!
They won their case.
By having the signs up saying beware of the dog, he was admitting he knew his dog would bite.
It cost him a pretty penny to make that go away!

This sue happy mentality is not making the world a better place.


 

thomas rubino wrote:Wow, Trace what state are you in?

20 years ago things were like that around here.
And for quite a few of us it still is.
However, with the influx of new folks around things have changed.

As an example our Justice of peace.   He had a fenced backyard.
He owned a male heeler-type dog. It, as most heelers are known to bite strangers or anyone walking away from one.
He had signs up warning beware of the dog.

The burglar must not have read the sign...
The dog bit the crook extensively as he was attempting to climb thru a  window...  
Police were called, and the man was taken to the doctor and then booked in jail for attempted robbery...

The lawyer for the crook promptly sued the JP for damages, pain, and suffering as well as mental "trauma" from the scary bad doggy... Doing his Job!
They won their case.
By having the signs up saying beware of the dog, he was admitting he knew his dog would bite.
It cost him a pretty penny to make that go away!

This sue happy mentality is not making the world a better place.

I'm in rural Wisconsin.  I'm sure in cities, even towns, it's more like you describe.  Out here in the sticks, not so much.  

My sister works at a law office and we discussed this a few times.  Generally, if you put up a "Beware of Dog" sign, it's just as you say.  You knew your animal would bite, and so your burden of making sure it is contained in a safe space becomes greater.  If you put up signs notifying people you have a dog, or dogs, working your property, it's easier to argue you just wanted people to be informed in case they are afraid of dogs, uncomfortable around them, etc.  I have heard of similar instances to the one you mentioned.  I've also heard about thieves coming into your house, slipping and breaking their leg, and suing the home owner.  It shocks and amazes me that there are judges that let shit like that fly.  I like to think it doesn't happen often, but the world we live in is changing.  I can see it now, even if your dog doesn't bite, he barked, scared the burglar who then tried to run, fell and got hurt, and you're still liable. I'm too old to worry about it.  What will happen will happen I guess.  Meanwhile, I feel much safer and more secure with my dogs protecting us.  You make a good point though, and people should be aware of all possible consequences.  

Great pyrenees have the lowest bite rate of any large guardian dog according to my research. They do need a fence to keep them away from roads, but they are amazing dogs. They are very gentle with smaller animals and people while they will charge to tree bears and fight wolves or people for their family. Pyrenees are smart in their own ways regarding what they were bred for 10,000yrs+ to do, but they are not wary of vehicles. Hence the need for a serious (6ft+) fence. They are also happier with some mammals to look after.

Jane:
"I'm so sorry this happened to you, Priscila. I hope you can build up again, knowing now that better security is needed at times when this person is in the area.
I also hope there was plenty of shit in the bucket they stole! What sort of person steals a shit bucket, for heaven's sake?"
Jane, we had sadly cleaned out the bucket as we line it with a bag and take it with us to dump at the trash bin... I guess energies really do attract...

Thomas:
"Yes, it was a sad lesson you learned but an important one. You both are unharmed.   Your property has been violated but not defiled." - yeah, we were told that if we had interrupted them before they took the generator, we would probably be in hospital or dead now.
"They set you up, cased all your nice stuff, and took advantage of the new guys. Shame on them!   And hopefully, a long painful jail term if they ever get caught!" - they get months if they get anything at all. The law enforcement knows who they are and are afraid of them. Theses people are very violent and they stick together, men and women and aren't afraid of dying for each other.  they also have no respect for anyone outside their ethnicity.
"I suspect that you will be much more aware in the future. No matter how much we would like/expect people to be honest, fair, and kind. "There is always a greedy asshole wanting to take what you have." - these people collect welfare in Portugal, in multiple places because they give fake names and social security workers are threatened for their lives, so they get away with everything. They simultaneously collect in Spain and France. I don't know what they do with so much money. Or why they need to take what is other peoples'...
"After you move on your land I suggest getting a large dog. Not a biting dog or you will be paying for the crook's medical bills. But a Mastiff-type dog who will perform "Bark and hold" on trespassers.
Nothing like a hip tall #150 dog with its ruff up  circling you barking ferociously to make greedy people go somewhere else!" - I have 4 dogs and recently someone dumped a Belgian Mallinois on my land, seeing I take care of my girls. These people poison the guard dogs to steal. My vet told me some pretty sad stories. There is no law for these people and my country protects them, calling them minorities and giving them more than they give hard working citizens. These people are a plague. I'm not a racist, but they are out of control, even the police are afraid.

John:
"18 Volt battery tools are readily available and are very good.
Are they trying to drive you away.
Alter your medication rather than go off it, people react differently to the medication but none is unwise." - I've been looking at battery operated tools and there is no way that I can afford to replace all of mine with them. It's cheaper to buy another generator... I don't think they are, someone who was working with us told them to come shop by, sadly I can't prove this, but an anonymous caller told me so...
I've been of my meds for 7 years now (depression) and the thyroid ones 3 years. I never felt better, healthier and more energetic. Given the situation, I think I'm handling it pretty well...


Jan:
"If I were you, I'd move onto the property right now. My husband and I lived in a tent and built our house with hand tools. We had absolutely no electricity, except one battery for the cordless drill that we had to bring into town to charge. So we got one or two sessions with the drill a week.
If you move onto the property, you'll be able to keep an eye on things and save all the money you're currently paying on rent. You'll be able to afford that generator sooner.
We've had some thefts here, too. It's just an unfortunate part of living rurally. I was amazed at the stuff they took, too. I've since decided, from looking that the type of stuff that gets dumped on our property (another unfortunate part of rural living) that thieves just pack up absolutely everything they can get their hands on and get the job done quickly. Later on, they sort through it and dump the stuff they don't want."
My husband works from home and we need electricity for him to do so, we need a place for out pets (3 indoor cats) and 5 dogs. We can't afford a tent or anything else right now. I just need to replace some tools and I'm starting the insulation asap.

Ben:
"Sorry to hear. At the Crescent City Food Forest we had shipping containers broken into multiple times by some human paraquat, to whom I would have gladly given the food we would have grown with the tools they stole (harvests were largely given away to those in need in the community). At one point after the third of fourth theft, I went back into the woods where I suspected the thieves were, looking for blood with my brush ax and hori-hori. In hindsight I am glad I did not find anyone!
I agree with the suggestions to live on site and get a big guardian dog. I never had problems with people, predators, or herbivores with my Great Pyrenees-Akbash, Willie, on-site. He is also one hell of a good snuggle." -
I hope they never come back. these people don't want healthy food... and I will leave it at that... I could never put a living creature at risk for my benefit, these people have no respect for anything but themselves (and not even that)


Trace:
"Add another vote for at least one good, and preferably large, dog.  I went a little different route than Thomas, I have dogs that will absolutely bite you if you come on my property uninvited.  I have signs up to hopefully keep anyone from being bitten, and to keep from being sued.  My signs say things like "Livestock guard dogs on duty", and "DO NOT leave vehicle without escort".  I also live in a rural area where, if you are bitten by someone's dog, people are likely as not going to say "what did you do to the dog?"  People here believe in and respect your right to do as you wish on your property for the most part.  If you are on someone's property uninvited and get bitten, you won't get much sympathy generally.  This varies very much from place to place of course.  I have no idea how people in your area feel about this."
these people are also great actors to collect compensation money. I live in a country that protects thieves, trespassers and politicians. If they were to get bitten by my dogs on MY property, I would still have to pay!!

Yeah, what Thomas said about the thieve suing, it's insane!

I understand and have similar concerns about someone hurting my dogs. It’s really about making your place clearly not the point of least resistance. An LGD’s risk level is also not all that different than any other dog that would likely bark at a psychopath that would hurt them. The difference is, a good LGD or two can actually do something about it, and will make it clear with a thunderous bark to anyone for a quarter mile that your place is occupied and defended.

While not impossible, in my area it difficult to sue for a bite from a farm dog when the dog is on its own property.   The assumption is that farms have animals that can injure people.  It is up to the visitor to take precautions.

Hello again!

If anyone is interested in helping us out of this hole, we started a GoFundMe at the request of some American friends.
Here is all the info:

Supporting from Portugal:
MBway: 93.865.11.75
MBnet: Entidade: 20130 Referência: 974901508 (donativo “anónimo”, não aparece o nome/ "anonymous" donation, no name will show up)

Supporting from WW:
Transferência/Bank Transfer: mandar MP/send PM for IBAN
PayPal: flyawaysyt@gmail.com
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/4d947617

our website is www.myflyaways.com with the abbreviated story

We would REALLY appreciate any and all contributions and also that you would SHARE our appeal with friends, family and co-workers!

Please don't let our project die at the beach...

How can I bump this post for more views?
We still need a lot of help to be able to get out of this hole...
Thank you for any input!

Maybe submit some photos of progress so people can see advancement of the project.

John C Daley wrote:Maybe submit some photos of progress so people can see advancement of the project.

The only progress we can advance is the flooring, installing XPS and the cement-wood boards. Without replacement materials, we can't lay the pipe or wire the house before we close up the walls.
It's a conundrum, isn't it?
We already have the replacement generator spoken for (we got it with a good discount), but it will still take some time to arrive... and of course (!!!) we won't be leaving it at the site ever again, so we need to secure transport for it.
A neighbour agreed to lend us a small trailer he had laying around so that we can bring it to and from... This can take up to 3 weeks to be sorted out.

We already laid some of the underflooring, I'll upload a pic. I'm sorry for the quality/darkness, it's a prinscreen of a video (our powerbank went out, the lightring went out)
Tomorrow we'll be going round to work some more!

BTW, we can lay the pipping bringing water INTO the house nested on the XPS below the cement-wood boards (and the floor tiling) OR we can run it through the ceiling (more easily accessible in the future and will have more insulation (rockwool and XPS, covered by drywall). I'm leaning towards the ceiling, that will mean we can lay the floor immediately and raise up the walls.
What does everyone think? Floor or ceiling?

Thanks!!

I would proceed in the manner that does not stop for missing parts, and change the design.
Do you have frost there that could freeze the pipes?
Can you run the pipes underneath and come up the walls on the outside where you actually need the water, then you will not have a chance of damaged pipes inside?

John C Daley wrote:I would proceed in the manner that does not stop for missing parts, and change the design.
Do you have frost there that could freeze the pipes?
Can you run the pipes underneath and come up the walls on the outside where you actually need the water, then you will not have a chance of damaged pipes inside?

The pipes need to run inside the structure as much as possible dues to frost and also security. The less is exposed, the less that can be stoles.
The pipes will run inside, I was thinking initially on the floor, but now will move them into the ceiling. I talked with the hardware store guy and he said the pressure will be the same, so I can move along the floors for now!