Hello Tree Law,

I am from Brooklyn, looking at property in PA. I found a place I love and am contemplating offering. It has quite a bit of acreage, that was likely logged 30 years ago, but left several large trees intact in the back acreage (50 ). I am not the sort to buy a place without walking the property extensively. The seller is an older couple that cannot get around much anymore. As I was on the back acreage, I found 4 large stumps with fresh sawdust next to them. Clearly someone had cut down the bigger trees. This is wooded land, so it had to be dragged out.

Now, there is a ravine cutting this section of the property off from the rest of the land, and I could clearly see where some sort of ATV dragged the logs. Directly onto a lot with one access road and is only one neighbor. I notified the old man, and he said he'd check it out.

My question - if I buy this land:

A. Can I recoup the value of the old trees they took? Timbering is part of why I would offer on this property, and they haven't gotten it all, but they shouldn't be stealing at all.

B. How can I warn the neighbors off if I do buy the property?

I expect - A. I can't do anything, because it isn't my property yet and no sort of right against previous owner's theft exists. B. Strongly worded legal letter and posting the property as well as game cams to see the area.

Any other advice is welcome. Thank you.