COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — State officials in Ohio say timber theft has increased due to high prices for white oak and black walnut.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Forestry is offering tips to help residents prevent thefts on public and private land.
Division Chief Dan Balser says in a release that timber poachers often work in secluded areas not visible from homes. He says they often remove the most valuable lower log section trees, leaving upper sections and limbs behind.
Small trailers and winches, or logging equipment like loaders and large trucks are sometimes used by thieves.
State officials urge Ohioans to inspect their property often, conduct inventories and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement the theft of timber is suspected.
