Timber theft is on the rise in Texas, with more than 20 cases reported in East Texas over the last four months. The rising price of timber combined with many absentee forest landowners in East Texas makes property vulnerable and easily accessible to timber thieves.
To avoid timber theft tactics, the Texas A&M Forest Service recommends landowners obtain a bill of sale that includes the name of the landowner, seller and purchaser, along with signatures and a description of the land and trees.
Timber theft also affects the natural resource, because reforestation methods are not in place to ensure a new forest for the future.