My "farm" was only a bit over five acres at the time. I was gone four weeks. When I got back my neighbor had stolen every drop of gas on the place including the pint out of my trim mower! I caught him in his yard a few days later. No fence so I stepped out of my truck and walked up to him, very close, within a foot. I told him about the stolen gas, the loose cables on the battery of the only vehicle with a hood that opened from outside.
I asked him if he thought I should shoot the thief with my 357 or my 308. The 357 was more convenient but I could step out to the highway and hit them as far as I could see them with the 308. I stopped and waited for an answer, staring him eyeball to eyeball. He realized I was going to wait for an answer until I got one. After a minute or so he said, "Uh, either one will work."
I said I thought so too and turned and walked away. The next year I left for three weeks and besides the vehicles and gas powered equipment I left twenty gallons of gas outside in cans. When I got back none of it had been touched!
Hu