Where is the respect for private property?

To the editor:
    I would like to address those out there who go out of their way to cross other peoples’ property without permission to do so. What part of “no trespassing” do you not understand? If the signs mean nothing, why would people bother to post their land?
    My wife and I own several acres in Ludlow and have recently purchased another parcel adjacent to us. This property is at the end of an abandoned town road that we have paid to survey, run power to, maintain and plow. The private right-of-way that goes through our newly purchased land is just that, a private right-of-way for our own use and the landowner behind us.
    This property has for years been owned by companies in the business of harvesting wood with owners who had no concern with folks using their land which they get a tax break to do so. Of course, there are those who respectfully hunt and fish and travel the tote roads without leaving their garbage behind, but there are those that do. The problem is that these large landowners do not live on the lands they own and do not care. We live on our land and we care about the crap those few abusers leave behind.
    After purchasing the property, I set about cleaning up the trash, tires and a TV that had been thrown out. I then placed a sawhorse type barricade and a simple unlocked cable across the road. That very night some individual moved the barricade, pulled one of the posts out of the ground at both ends of our lot and threw out their trash as they drove through.
    Over the past couple of years, we have had people drive right up to our house even though we have our driveway clearly posted as Private Property. At one time I actually had no less than eight different signs saying about the same thing, yet these people seem not to be able to read.    
    What is in the nature of man that makes him think he is free to take liberty of others property? Would they think it acceptable for me to jump in their truck and use it for my own purposes, leaving my trash inside when and if I brought it back to where I got it?
    Like most of the people that live around here, we have worked hard for what little we have. No one gave us any free rides, inheritances, endowments, charity or welfare. We have not walked through life with our hands out for any of this, nor do we feel entitled to any.
    It has been brought to our attention that we are thought of as “flatlanders” from Massachusetts. Well, to set the record straight, we were both born, raised and have lived and worked in Maine all our lives and have parents that were born, raised and lived and worked their whole lives in Maine as well. We were raised by hard-working parents and taught to respect other peoples’ property and when we are out tote roadin’ and come across a posted property, we turn around without thinking less of the landowner for exercising his right to his property and privacy. And I certainly do not say behind anyone’s back to others what I would not say directly to their face.
    We pay our taxes and our bills through working the small business we own and operate and until someone comes forth to pay those bills and taxes for me, I will continue to have final say as to who uses my property. And if you don’t like that, tough!
Jeff Boudreau
Ludlow