When we invest in plants for our garden, it’s much more than a passing fancy. Sometimes we spend considerable time choosing the right plants for the right place. We build a bond with our plants and they almost gain the same status as much-loved pets, especially trees and shrubs.
Plant theft is on the rise and it’s not just rare, wild species that are on the burglary list, our garden plants are also hot cakes in terms of theft.
What plants are most at risk?
Most thefts are opportunist, but thefts of statuary and larger items can be pre-meditated and a major exercise. Newly planted trees, plants in containers and specimen plants are most at risk as they are easier to load into the back of a van.
Some plants are more likely to be stolen than others, high value plants like tree ferns, lemon trees, olive trees and topairy growing in pots are among the most often stolen. Additionally, Bonsai trees are small and valuable and easy to steal.
There are a few tricks you can use to reduce the risk of plant theft.
- Use a soil-based compost to add to the weight of a planter, making it more difficult to steal. Add a layer of pebbles or stones to the container before planting, this will increase the weight making it harder to lift and remove.
- Think about tethering the stem or trunk of your plant to a wall, using steel cable and a strong wall bracket to deter opportunist thieves.
- Plant prickly plants around your precious plants making it more difficult to get close to your plants to dig or pull them up.
- Security mark your planters and ornaments, so that you have a better chance of getting them back if stolen.
- Take photographs of your plants, containers and garden ornaments. This creates a record of your ownership and gives you images to load onto social media or to pass on to the police, if they have been stolen.
- Consider adding a tracker to valuables in case of theft.
- Keep your precious plants out of sight so that they are not visible to opportunist thieves.
- Place planters onto a gravelled area to create noise around your collection.
- Install motion sensor outdoor lights to illuminate your garden when strangers approach.
- Consider installing CCTV cameras that cover your garden and valuables.
