some loser has stolen my plants!!!

Teresita_2

misskool wrote: »

Aw...:(

Can't really say much but if you do live down south, I'd be there with my spare plants.

Id second that if I was closed you could have had some of my sparesxxx

ceridwen

Primrose wrote: »

I am truly gutted for you. I do hope that you have told the police and got a crime reference number. If they are not being planted in somebody's allotment they are quite possibly being sold at a car boot sale. Having on two previous occasions had allotments from which crops were stolen I know what a kick in the face this must have been for all your efforts. Could you put a notice up on your front gate. "All my veggie seedlings have been STOLEN. If you have any spare xxxxxx you do not need, I would gratefully accept them." Some kind hearted fellow gardener might be able to help you out. I do hope so.

That could be worth a thought too - personally I'd phrase it in a lighthearted humorous way - ie "A thief has helped themselves to all my carefully nurtured seedlings. If there's any surplus plants soon to be homeless elsewhere due to overcrowding - I'll give them a good home please and plenty of plant food:D". I think that sort of approach would amuse me enough if I was passing and had some spare seedlings that I'd think "poor person - that wasnt very nice for them - and they will be approachable if I just ring on their doorbell and offer some".

foreign_correspondent

... I have just come in, tired and achey and a bit little hacked off, to read all your kind messages and I am really touched, thank you all very much!

I have been over there today securing the greenhouse and salvaging a few things. I have reported it to the police and my dad has made a few phone calls to local nurseries etc to let them know to call him if anyone tries to flog the stuff to them.

Now I have had chance to review things, it probably isn't as bad as I first feared, we have managed to find several self-set strawberry plants from runners, so we have potted them up today, which replaces some of the lost ones (so jam making is on again! - I made gallons last year!), and I had some chillies and squash to pr1ck out, and some melons and pumpkin to plant, and it has sort of filled the gaps, so it doesn't look so bad now!

However, I have also spotted a few other bits they have whipped - trays of onion seedlings, some empty wire hanging baskets etc. They had clearly backed an estate car or van up to the greenhouse and filled the back, as they had moved things to make space for a vehicle.

I know it's a drop in the ocean in the scheme of things, it's just disheartening when you have put a lot of time and thought in, and someone has just helped themselves.

I can easily spend twenty minutes deliberating and dithering about whether to buy a plant or not, and thinking of the cost, whether its an extravagance, whether I can justify it to myself, whether I can store/use/preserve/sell or give away the produce.... I am sure you fellow moneysavers know the sort of thing I mean - then just to have someone take it, is a little galling.

Also, I had some lovely fruit trees given to me by a friend of my dad's and I feel bad somehow about them getting stolen. Some bits were sort of unusual too, like someone had brought me the onion seed I used back from Spain...

BUT Luckily they hadn't touched my tomatoes and chillies, which I love growing, and I have splashed out on a few different and unusual sorts this year. :T

Whilst I appreciate people's suggestions about tracking them down, (it was my first thought too) I have decided I am not going to go looking for them, if I do I would have to go to a dozen possible car boots in the morning, and doubt whether I would spot my stuff and I would just get a bit obsessed with hunting them down - s0d it, they have had my stuff, they are not going to have my time and energy too, I have other stuff that needs doing, and better ways I can spend my time, so I have decided to chalk this one down to experience and get on with the next thing!

Thanks for the sugestions about seeds, I do have a few left, so I will plant more, it is probaby the fruit bushes and trees that will be the costliest items to replace - guess I will wait till Aldi and Lidl get fruit bushes in again and start afresh next spring! Amy also do a freecycle ask, as I often give away spare brassicas etc on there!

Thanks again though, I am just hoping they do not come back for the remainder!!! I have tried to bribe my brother to sleep in the greenhouse, but he isn't keen somehow - kids today, huh!

Thanks again folks,

fc x

chnelomi

seriously what is the world becoming when people steal plants and seedlings i know everyone is feeling the pinch but dose that give them the excuse to rob you of your plants not to mention you and your dads time and effort.

I listen to my grandmother talking about leaving the doors unlocked when you went to the local shop, now in this day and age we need double locks and alarms just to sit in the back garden.:mad::mad::mad::mad:
May a plague of locust land in their veggies that's what they deserve.

davethorp

seadee wrote: »

What have the local police got to say about it?

More than likely, here have a crime reference number and we'll send an officer round to do sod all sometime in 2045

stilernin

What bar-stewards!!

As to restocking, I saw healthy blackcurrant, redcurrant and blackberry bushes in Poundland today if you have one near you. No idea what variety, but it would be a start.

foreign_correspondent

May a plague of locust land in their veggies that's what they deserve.

:T
here here! I also hope they get blight and blossom end rot! (the thieves not the veggies!!)

davethorp - you are telepathic, that is exactly what the police said!!!

have a crime reference number and we'll send an officer round to do sod all sometime in 2045

:rotfl:

As to restocking, I saw healthy blackcurrant, redcurrant and blackberry bushes in Poundland today if you have one near you. No idea what variety, but it would be a start.

Brill, thanks, off to poundland tomorrow then!!:D

Filey

davethorp wrote: »

More than likely, here have a crime reference number and we'll send an officer round to do sod all sometime in 2045

I phoned the Police when I had a newly planted window box stolen (grrrr) not in the expectation of them doing anything but just to have it recorded as a crime as there had been a lot of petty thieving and vandalism about and if no one bothers to report it there won't be a record of a 'trend'. I said this to them when I phoned, as it was not likely they are going to send out a squad car. They said they appreciated my doing so, and would I like a visit from a victim support officer. I laughed when they said this, but they told me they are obliged to offer when anyone reports an offence no matter how trivial.

lifesuckssometimes

Sorry to hear that. Dirty !!!!ing thieves i too hope they choke or have some scally go and rob them to know how it feels like :mad::mad::mad:

pirates

I also extend sympathies, we have had a run of it at the allotment I'm at, 'THEY' come in on evenings and take what they want, tools, pots etc, they haven't taken too many seedlings but have made a mess of the beds and broken greenhouses etc.

Anyway, probably too late and too far but my allotment is having a plant sale tomorrow (sunday) at lumley place, leeds.

People are looking to 'sell' off their excess for a small donation - the funds go towards the upkeep of the hut and site.

Hope you replace soon. The rewards outweigh the cr** these bu**ers have inflicted on you.