Note on roadside tree highlights 'brazen' act plaguing Aussie suburbs

Yahoo

6 hours ago

A handwritten note attached to a tree on the side of a suburban road has exposed a strange and frustrating crime wave sweeping the country. Perth resident Jasmine told Yahoo News that her block of townhouses in the city's northwest has experienced multiple incidents of plant thefts over the past few years.
The block of five homes resorted to attaching the letter pleading with thieves after a garden bed of expensive native plants on the verge was ripped out.
"Last year, we noticed the plants were going missing and being damaged," she told Yahoo News. Eventually, there was only one kagraoo paw plant left, and everything else had been taken.
On a local community group, multiple residents reported their plants being dug up and taken from their front gardens, with Jasmine describing the act as "so brazen".
"It's been going on for years," she said, describing the situation as a "scandal".
Recently, the group of residents decided to pay out of their own pockets to replant the verge with more native plants. "Less than 24 hours after planting them, they'd been hit again," she said.
It prompted a desperate move from one of Jasmine's neighbours to affix a note to a nearby tree pleading with the callous thieves. "Please don't steal our plants," the note reads.
It's not the first time that a resident has been left respondent by the shocking act. Yahoo News has reported on multiple cases of plant thefts across the country in what appears to be a growing trend.
Andy Luke, from the Adelaide suburb of Eden Hills recently hit out at the "despicable" act after his property was targeted twice in the last three weeks — with the brazen act caught on home security camera. He suspects that the plants are being resold.
"I think someone is either taking them and selling them, or they're dodgy landscapers and someone had an order for English hedges and they decided to come and take them," he said.
Last August, a student in Sydney's west was left "devastated" when she found dug-out holes where she once lovingly planted $300 worth of plants outside her home.
Remarkably, another Adelaide resident was able to track down the thief who took their plants by hiding Apple Airtags in the soil of the plants.
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Because plant theft is recorded simply as a theft for WA Police, officers are unable to ascertain exactly how many cases there were relating to plants stolen from homes.
However, a spokesperson for the force told Yahoo that anyone who sees anything suspicious should report the theft.
"We suggest anyone who sees any suspicious activity, persons or vehicles in their area, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online. We also suggest that people report the theft to police via 131 444 or online via the WA Police Force website."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the City of Stirling, where the most recent thefts took place, told Yahoo News council was aware of similar incidents several years ago but has not been made aware of recent cases.
"While theft of property should first and foremost be directed to WA Police, residents may request that the City undertake a security patrol to investigate suspicious activity or behaviours," the spokesperson told Yahoo News.
Council said it plants around 7,000 new trees each year on street verges, in reserves and in natural areas throughout the council area.
"Pruning, damaging, poisoning or removing a City street tree without prior approval is considered vandalism and penalties apply.
"Tree vandalism is incredibly frustrating for the City and residents who put a lot of value on trees and the native wildlife they support.
"Apart from the impacts tree vandalism has on the natural environment and the amenity of local areas, it is also a significant financial burden. A lot of time and money goes into the success of trees, from sourcing them to caring for them throughout their lifetime."
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