Snowdrop theft

[kGarden]

I'd rather have no mention of snowdrop thefts in the news papers. My garden is wide open at the front with a 3 foot / 1m fence. They back has a five foot wall / 1.5m-ish. Those are nothing for would be thieves.

I am sceptical about newspaper articles as it seems to me that they are more often designed to sell Copy than help apprehend criminals. An article announcing that thefts happen which, in the same article, reports the staggering amounts that a few snowdrops have fetched on eBay, will only encourage thieves who have not yet considered Snowdrops in their illegal activities.

[astragalus]

Plant theft is really disgusting, another form of instant gratification for people who don't want to be bothered doing the work themselves to get a plant to the point that it's enticing enough to be stolen.  My garden is open every year for the Garden Conservancy, which is only one day.  The visit is 6 hours long and I now have teams of friends who take the tickets and are stationed throughout the garden to keep an eye out, in this case a number of eyes.  Other visits are by groups and are scheduled.  For those I have no help, but insist that the group stays together.  It does take the heart out of you when after a visit you go through the garden and see a couple of holes where there were plants (many years ago).  As far as labels, the deer break most of those anyway

[Maggi Young]

Hazel Southam has had an article on this subject published today in  a UK newpaper ;
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2558061/Invasion-snowdrop-snatchers-Security-guards-High-tech-alarms-CCTV-As-single-bulb-fetches-725-astonishing-steps-gardeners-taking-stop-theft-flowers.html

[mark smyth]

I must fix my security light

[MR GRUMPY]

I had a case of snowdrop theft today .'Saville Gold' had both the flowers pinched and 'Fiona's Gold' also had a flower missing
Can i report blackbirds to the police?

[mark smyth]

Not only snowdrops are stolen
http://www.birdtrader.co.uk/goldfinches-stolen-for-sale/Passerine/403587

[mark smyth]

Stop thief!

[annew]

  Pie!

[Maggi Young]

Tweet from Gavin McNaughton ‏@macplants Feb 24 -

"Sad visit to home of the wild "yellow" snowdrops. Area very recently ransacked & the snowdrops dug up. If you are offered please do not buy!"

 

[MR GRUMPY]

Pie!

[Alan_b]

"Sad visit to home of the wild "yellow" snowdrops. Area very recently ransacked & the snowdrops dug up. If you are offered please do not buy!"

And yet despite my keen interest in snowdrops I do not know where 'the home of the wild "yellow" snowdrops' is with any greater specificity than Northumberland.  Was it a bulk nivalis theft that just happened to get the yellows?  In which case they will probably appear at some local market as 'snowdrops in the green'. 

[Maggi Young]

I know no more - but as you say,  these few sites of the naturalised yellows are not well known and Gavin at  least thinks it must have  been a deliberate raid.

[johnw]

Tweet from Gavin McNaughton ‏@macplants Feb 24 -
"Sad visit to home of the wild "yellow" snowdrops. Area very recently ransacked & the snowdrops dug up. If you are offered please do not buy!"

Sickening.

[emma T]

Very sad

[Alan_b]

...  these few sites of the naturalised yellows are not well known and Gavin at  least thinks it must have  been a deliberate raid.

Yet organised by somebody who knew where to go, of which there cannot be that many people.  I agree it is very sad but it also seems strange.  I am mystified by what happens to all these stolen snowdrops.