Well! This is a first for me. Five of my homemade earthboxes were stolen from the side of my house. Has anyone else had this happen?
Juanita
Stolen Homemade Earth Boxes
I read a story that in Durham - this woman went chasing down the road after these two women ALL -not just the homeowner - was on foot! These two women stole her topiary trees --- containers and all from her front steps. Just like it was OK for them to take her stuff! WALKED away as calm as you please --just like she had a sign on both saying 'Free' - She was hollering so hard the police were called and the women said that the containers/shrubs belonged to them!
And right here on DG - one of our members said last year that her landscaper stole valuable plants ---she had it on camera.
People will steal just about anything won't they? My DH and I figure they had to either know what they were stealing or had seen our enormous tomato plants and bountiful harvest last year and became couvetous. I hate the thought of having to build 5 more boxes (it's a lot of work) but my tomatoes are under lights and will be looking for a new home soon.
Rosie: Did the landscaper get reported for his theft?
Dutchlady: Did you ever find out who did it? I know it is hard to identify plants. Since my earthboxes were homemade, they are one of a kind. If we find them we will know for sure they are ours. don't you just hate the idea of a thief in your home or yard?
As I was typing my mother's sitter came in and I told her about the missing boxes. Long story short, she thinks they may have been stolen to grow marijauna in someone's basement. I never would have though of that and it really makes me angry to think someone would pervert the use of those boxes I worked so hard on in that manner. It didn't make me angry that they were stolen, but that they might be used in that manner really does.
Juanita
So sorry to hear about your earthboxes. The garden in our church yard was hit last fall. One day we had beautiful yellow mums then poof, they were gone. The other time all of our hardy hibiscus were taken. It blows my mind.
I had some plants stolen from my front yard this year. Most were Amaryllis. What made me the most angry is that they had no concern for the plants. In digging them up, they DESTROYED everything that was left, and half of the Amaryllis bulbs were sliced in half. Stupid thieves . . .
So sorry for all your losses!
Maybe I should be grateful the deer eat all my stuff before the thieves can steal it.
I can't remember the outcome of the landscaper issue. I believe it was in Florida. I think what happened was that the landscaper's son (she and he worked on the jobs together) was confronted and then the neighborhood association was informed and that landscaper lost a lot of business. I don't think the police got involved.
This message was edited Apr 15, 2009 2:32 PM
I too am sorry for each of your losses.
Thank you all for the kind words. It is difficulty to understand the mentality of those who steal, but I am probably relating to the guillty conscious I would have if I took anything. Sadly, I don't think thieves care. My DH and I will pursue police action since what was stolen from us is easily identifiable as ours. I don't suppose the police will do a lot but if we have a police report in, if those who stole them are growing illegal plants and get caught, we will have the satisfaction of knowing they were caught.
Cathy: From a church? There are people of depraved mind out there.
It is actually worse than that. One of our groups built really sturdy benches and buried them in concrete at every bus stop in the area and chained a trash barrel to it to cut down on the litter. Within just a short time, all but a few were gone, trash barrel and all. Chain sawed off at the ground. It was so good to see people sitting as they waited for the bus, older people, moms with kids...
Stealing from a church is horrible. I cannot understand that.
We didn't make a police resport, but my DH and I are BOTH the police, so hopefully I will find something that's mine sooner or later. the guys I work for wouldn't know what they are looking for anyway (sorry guys!).
Good luck, I hope you get them, slap the cuffs on tight and drag their behinds to jail.
I hope you find them too 222. Short of having someone turn them in how would you catch them?
I feel that is one thing my DH and I have in our favor. Our boxes are homemade (by the sweat of our brows) and they are one of a kind. Whoever took them knew what they were because the thieves passed up two riding mowers not 35 feet behind them and clearly visible, and a golf cart which was behind the house with a key in the cup holder. With a minimum of $7,000.00 worth of mechanical equipment, thousands of dollars of hybrid daylilies, various garden ornaments, etc. right there for the taking, we feel this must have been someone wanting to use the boxes for an illegal purpose and their own pleasure. I was merely irritated that they were stolen, but it really makes me angry that they may use what was labored hard over with love, for a corrupt and stupid pleasure. It chaps my ____. Excuse the hyperbolie.
Cathy: I am really saddened to hear that the good works your church has done have been so disrespected. I fear for those people who did those reckless deeds. I know God is merciful and I depend on that mercy myself. I pray for mercy for all but just as we who serve the Lord pay the consequences for our actions here on earth, they will too, but without the good outcome in the future of which we have the hope. Your story reminds me that the Lord who was so unjustly treated asked for forgiveness for His enemies, and I am humbled.
Juanita
Yes, it was hard to pray for and forgive those who took the benches, that is one of the harder things to learn, isn't it?
Thank you all for talking this through with me. I have a different direction for my anger now.
Juanita
I guess nothing is sacred
Certainly not to some.
Juanita
I am going to get flamed for this one, but how is stealing from a church worse than stealing from a home or any other place?
A church is just a place to gather for fellowship. Unless the people in there are doing something (such as collecting food for a soup kitchen or something like that), then it's just a place where people gather to observe the religion of their choice in a manner of their choice. Other than that, it serves no particular purpose. It's like a community center, but with a slightly more specific focus.
Now keeping in mind that stealing is .... well, I have had my home broken into and there are not words that are adequate for my seething hatred of people that act like this .... how is it worse when it is stolen from a church? If the theivery is like what happened to some of the people above, such as our first poster LilyGardener, then it is taking the work and resources that a single person has put into something. It's taking her time, her effort, and her resources - not to mention food from the mouth of her and her family.
Taking flowers from a church doesn't seem to compare, in my opinion. It bites - hugely - but you can't eat mums.
OK. Flame on!
No Flaming from here, it is all equal, and shocking.
You're not going to hear an argument from me.
I agree that it is no different as to harm done and the church building is simply a meeting place for the true church. However, service to God is called "sacred." Those plants and benches were gifts given to honor the God the church serves. They were not given to decorate a random building. Have any of the rest of you seen God act against an injustice done to one of His own? I can't prove it but I certainly wonder when I've seen things that I suspect were judgements.
I do however get your points, stealing is stealing, and those stolen from have a right to be angry.
Juanita
Thank you all. And thank you for understanding the question, rather than reacting to the fact that it was definitely directed in a religious direction.
Unfortunately, I think that real thievery is a fact of life, unless you get to know your neighbors. I'm very slowly learning to understand mine, and so they kind of keep a weather eye out on the house - just as my husband and I do for them, too. It's not a lot. But, when there is a stranger in the neighborhood, at any time one of us will be out there talking to the person, being friendly, but still finding out what is going on, so that everyone is a little more secure.
It's too bad that none of your neighbors were able to see the person doing it, and go to talk to him/her. Sometimes the greatest deterrent of all is knowing that someone can identify you.
Hastur: There was bad weather in Atlanta recently and the day that big storm came through Alabama and hit us at night, people from a tree service were going through our neighborhood and the ones around us. When they came to my door they were very aggressive and asked specifically about cutting down three trees which they described in detail. They had taken a good look around my yard and knew what was there. We actually think the boxes were stolen at night, but can't be sure of course. The tree people are my main suspects but there are also teenage boys across the street that I see in the street with carloads of friends at all hours of the night (I know: where are the parents?). The tree service flyers were taped to mailboxes everywhere around here and I want to ask the policeman across the street if it would be worth while finding out if others had things missing. His name is Scott. He must be out of town. We have been looking for him for several days and neither he nor his family have been home.
Many years ago my mother's across the street neighbor, who was also an acquaintance, saw a nicely dressed young man park in front of her home, walk down the driveway and go into the back. A short while later she saw him walk down the driveway, get into his car and leave. The neighbor thought he was one of mother's nephews. He wasn''t: he was a jewelry thief, and he was a pro. He took all the good jewelry and left the phoney. They never caught him. So much for neighborhood watches.
Juanita
The day after we had tree people in to take down a very old live oak from our son's backyard (sniff!), my dad's rototiller was stolen from his backyard. He lives next door. We could never prove it, but certainly the tree guys were able to see into my dad's yard, saw the lay of the land (back alley access, etc.) and had the truck...but who knows.
This past year our development area was hit with a rapist -- he was not a tree guy but he wore a T-shirt with a tree service name and logo and that was his excuse for knocking on doors and traipsing through yards. If the lady of the house answered the door, whether or not she ever unlocked the door, he kept his distance and gave his tree service spiel. Then he would climb a fence and go test the backdoor knob -- now that he knew someone was home. He was successful at least once, and thwarted at least two more times, once just two doors down from me. Chilling.
Of course, probably 99.999% of tree service people are just that -- tree service people -- but it does give you pause to think about these guys, strangers wandering through neighborhoods with impunity, with ropes and tools and a truck. LiseP
There are people that are out of work and going around offering to do yard work or handyman work. But it could as easily be a thief checking out what can be easily taken. Keep an eye out! My problem isn't usually thieves. It's people we hire to do work on something around here and they always seem to kill plants somehow! The last was a potted plant that I found knocked over after they left. Most of the soil was knocked out and I don't think the plant is coming back, even though I tried to save it.
I looked out the window in time enough to see the pressure washer guy (who hit the windows with the full force of the spray and broke the 'seal' keeping the argon in) KICKING dirt over a plant that he broke off at the ground level and then tried to support the entire broken stem with the kicked up dirt.
If only they would just be honest enough to tell us *sigh*! I probably could have saved my plant if I'd know right away, but no, they didn't say a word and didn't even put the soil back in the pot. I can forgive an honest mistake...but....not this!
as I read this thread - almost in disbelief
I remembered my aunt in the University section of Philadelphia telling they stole the Santa AND Sleigh from atop a white elephant type home
- three stories up while she slept
- yes in the bitter winters of Philadelphia area!
I used to wonder about why persons would ever have a use for Barbed-Wire unless dealing with live stock.
Me'thinks there is two-legged livestock running amuck!
with that said
- Ive also come to the realization if you want someone to do a job - Watch All. We've had things broken, damaged, poorly installed.
(Just yesterday I dug up a tree that was so poorly planted it was dying!)
gardening almost becoming Sports-like
- due to Poor Sportsmanship behavior.
We need Offense and Defense moves! LOL!
I think the best defense is a good offense. I am very fortunate and have a good contractor that I can call when something needs doing, and I cannot do it. He's honest to the point of telling me when he makes an error (even something small like a spot of paint on the carpet) and then telling me what he did to fix it (cleaned it up and made it good as new - I would not have known if he had not told me).
Unfortunately, I can't share Larry with the world. More's the pity too, because he's the kind of guy you want to do all your stuff: competent, honest, sweet, and just a generally cool dude.
Lucky you, my handyman moved to Colorado (my son). Isn't it interesting how some people just seem to know how to fix things? I think I've known since he was little that he wouldn't like working in an office, he's so much happier now.
My neighborhood business association had some very cool huge planters designed and built to go up and down Chicago's North Broadway. I think they start at Bryn Mawr and run to Devon, but I'm not sure. They are beautifully planted and freshened up as the seasons change. The first year they were out, at least half of the plants were stolen within the first week.
I voluntarily plant and maintain several street-corner gardens and a traffic circle planting, with help from neighbors in my block association. I got a bit OCD last year and spent several hundred bucks on bulbs for 2 street-corner gardens. I hope no one helps themselves to either the bulbs or flowers.
tomtedbear,
Thanks for you comment. Your work and generouslity to the community are commenable. I hope your plantings remain for all to enjoy. We still have not located our earth boxes but we have a suspect and my husband and a neighbor who is a policeman are working on it.
We have begun work on five new earth boxes. Hopefully they will remain.
If I get around to it I want to post some pictures of the new garden area my husband just created in our way back yard. For a city garden it is fairly large, 18 x 28 approximately. We share with the neighbors we know and if anyone were in need we would gladly share with them. Regardless, a time or two last year some of our veggies turned up missing. None of the plants were missing however. Whoever helped themselves likely did not want to do the raising, just the eating. : )
Juanita
Good luck getting your earth boxes back. And if you don't, just look at it as an opportunity to improve on what you had. Better size, depth, plantings, whatever. (OK, maybe I'm reaching here, but try to find a positive).
I just remembered another plant theft story. I was dining at a window table in an expensive Michigan Avenue restaurant on Chicago's “Magnificant Mile.“ It was spring and the Michigan Avenue Merchants Association had just changed their plantings from their wonderful tulip show to their late spring plantings. As we sat eating a delightful meal, a bedraggled woman walked up to a planted with two shopping bags and quickly pulled the plants up and placed them in her shopping bags. And she kept coming back! She must have been taking them somewhere close, because it didn't take her long to make each trip. I was torn between calling the police and feeling sorry for her.
Rich or very poor is no reason to steal wrong is wrong. Even when I had a dog who got out of her pen and dug up the neighbors flower bed so my boys and I replanted her flowers to make it look nice again. My point is to be a responsible Adult. I would have at least called the Michigan Avenue Merchants Association to let them know.
Many years ago, new landscaping at a bank in middle TN (my old hometown) was stolen the same night it was put in. Trees and shrubs - gone the next morning!
We had our oven, dishwasher, kitchen island light fixture, and kitchen plumbing fixtures stolen the day before we closed. Luckily the refrigerator was due on closing day and the microwave was already mounted (too much work to rip out?) The builder had to cover for the stolen goods so no extra money out of our pocket.
My sister's potted plants and yard art were stolen off her patio a few years ago. I guess you cannot leave anything out anymore.
My nephew had his large screen TV stolen in broad daylight while he was at work. The neighbors even saw the thieves loading it in their van but didn't report it because it looked like they were just picking it up for repair. The mistake was leaving the empty box at the curb for trash pickup.
Thieves are very brazen and with this economy I'm surprised it isn't worse. Security cameras are starting to look like a good investment. There was a story a few weeks ago about a woman who owned some vacation property in FL and had a camera installed in the house. She just happened to be monitoring her place over the internet when two young guys walked into view of the camera while stealing things. She called the police at that location and they actually caught the thieves. That was good news!
Put some concrete in the bottom of those EBs or a huge stake into the ground. It might make the thieves think twice about the work involved.
hcmcdole,
Sorry for all your losses. I think thievery is increasing in this bad economy. People are stealing the wierdest things.
Sniffle! My homeless tomatoes are still waiting for me to find time to make them a new home. Maybe I'll get the replacement boxes finished over the weekend.
Security cameras sound like a great idea.
I still need to get the camera out and take a pic of our new garden area. It is filled with dirt and ready to ammend. We will be quite late in putting out most things. It is still rather cool here in Georgia. Last year good growth didn't begin unitl June anyway, when the weather began to stay warm.
Juanita
Yes it has been cool this week in GA (I thought our last cool bout was blackberry winter but maybe this week has been) but I fear summer will be here soon enough. I'm looking forward to the heat except for watering chores and mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are the pits, aren't they? I get big welts, my husband doesn't get bothered.
I spray with the strongest DEET I can because if I don't I will be the mosquito magnet. I bought the newest OFF repellent clip on gadget a few weeks ago but haven't really had a need to try it out yet.
http://offprotects.com/coupon/04-09-bogo/?sid=SEM&cid=Google
Thanks for sharing that link, I can't put the stuff on me, maybe this will help.
I bought the big Mosquito Magnet years ago and it is downstairs collecting dust - too many things to set up and keep working if you ask me - propane, attractant, low voltage, cleaning, lighting, etc. So it's been Deet or nothing for years.