Garden thieves

News from Norwich:

There are more than 1.2 million thefts from outside people's homes each year, according to recent British Crime Survey figures. And as the trade in garden and architectural antiques has expanded, so too has the amount stolen from gardens. . .

Public gardens have also fallen victim to thieves, who have stolen statues, plants and other ornaments. Many public gardens will now open by appointment only as owners believe that taking down names and addresses will reduce the risk of theft.

One couple, Colin and Linda Warburton, had their entire garden stolen from the grounds of their home near Bristol in 2000. Thieves uprooted 4ft high trees and shrubbery, chiselled out cemented ornaments like a bird table, sundial and benches, and even took a pond complete with dozens of carp and goldfish.

Elsewhere, an award-winning garden in Nottingham was decimated after being stripped of scores of plants, 25 garden gnomes, a Greek urn and five wall-mounted squirrels.

In Cardiff, thieves removed an entire front garden of plants, shrubs, flowers and lawn, while in Kent a man was beaten up by a gang who used a Land Rover to ram-raid his garage to steal a £1,000 lawnmower.

Posted by David on May 26, 2003 9:02 PM