IF you have ever been in the Ozarks, you can fully understand how this happens.
I have a friend with a situation similar to yours. He and his wife own 250 acres two states away. He got to know the local cops and ended up getting one to check on his property on a regular basis when he was off duty. He even gave him a key to the gate at the end of his driveway.
Once the locals knew that there was “one of their buddies” looking after the property, all the issues stopped.