That is horrible. Almost as bad as stealing flowers from graves, which is the MOST despicable act I've witnessed among plant thieves.

Next thing you know, they'll be leaving behind ransom notes. Seriously, what do you think they do with it? Plant it in their own yards? Sell it? I just can't imagine someone doing something so disgusting.

What a dreadful thing to happen. You must cContact you local police department. Next time it may be something more than plants that disappear, and should you disturb them who knows what might happen. Hope that nothing else disappears

That is horrible!!!

Stonybrook, this is truly horrific and if this were happening to me I'd be petrified. People are so bad honestly.

You need to do something -- but what?? Do you live somewhere where there's a neighborhood coalition of some kind? Maybe you can get the group to hire some security and have patrol cars come by routinely. If your neighbors knew what was happening I'll bet they would be equally horrified.

Rose

I certainly hope you are reporting these incidents to you local police department. Even if they can't find the thief it should be on record that this is happening.

To hear this is both horrifying, but even more heartbreaking. My experience as a gardener and former nursery owner has always been that plant people are honest and generous. Sounds like a thief that is cashing in on the popularity of gardening, I bet your plants are installed in a new landscape in the area or for sale at a flea market etc. I hope you have reported this to the police, have some motion activated lights and some gates to lock and a great big dog with huge teeth.

This is awful. Most of my plants have come from friends, old and new, that I have made gardening. It's a crying shame this thief doesn't get plants in a way to create friends, but then he/she is most likely not a gardener. While we may snatch seeds, I don't believe we'd steal a fellow gardener's hard work. I agree, your plants are probably in someone's new landscape. I knew that builders had this problem but never dreamed gardeners would.....

I have never heard of such!!

If someone was doing that to me, I would set a trap. I would place a very tempting plant out and setup a camera in a window with a clear view. The police might snicker at the idea of patroling for a plant thief, but if you had evidence of them doing it on tape...then they will probably investigate.
I can't imagine someone being so cheap as to steal plants from someone's yard!!

Good Luck and keep us informed!

I've seen this before turns out it was malicious kids, and the plants turned up in some nearby woods, pots busted and most plants were dead. With school just out they are already bored I guess. Have you had any run ins or cross words with any of your local " malcontents" er uh I mean neighborhood children?

Long play video tapes and a cam-corder is my suggestion.
There are semi-inexpensive cameras that are controled by movement available also.
New sub-divisions are often hit by plant thieves that are re-planting for customers. Last year there was a rash of Jap Maple disappearances in Buckhead. I even have a client who has chains on all their Maples

I would say this is terrible but doesn't surprise me. A lot of People have no morals so you see it more often then not.

See if a neighbor is home through the day that can keep an eye out for your stuff. Or watch for any odd people in the neighborhood. Do you live close enough to someone?

Like you said they haven't taken your maples so they must not know the value of what they are taking. Probably kids is right.

Good luck and I would also report it. It could lead to bigger things in the future.

Cath

It's happened to me. I lost some rare plants that were planted outside my fence.
Once my neighbours down the street got wind of the thefts, they watch out for our house like halks. It's sort of a trade off for the noise, lol.
Camera shells with signs posted for video taping has also worked in some cases of thefts I've heard of.

GGG

Many thanks to everyone for your responses and suggestions. Have been shopping, even this AM, for a surveillance system with motion detector-infrared cameras, digital recorder, alarm and monitor. Have been considering one for awhile and this last incident is probably the "straw that broke the camel's back". It is absolutely a waste of time and effort to attempt reporting such losses to local law enforcement. If they didn't laugh and hang up, they would admonish me for "wasting their time". It is even very difficult to get someone dispatched for a vehicle theft, breakin or acts of serious vandalism, they want to take the report on the phone. Neighborhood patrols in my area are a distant memory. Neighbors and our neighborhood watch is of no help.
The one's that are employed, leave in early morning and return near dusk, the unemployed and retired ones stay closeted in their shuttered homes, occasionally venturing out to start their vehicle and run an errand. No one around me for 0ne-half mile has a flower or vegetable garden. What kind of existance is that?
We are an elderly retired couple that garden with a passion and to keep our muscles vibrant.(and hopefully help us remain healthy) We grow thousands of plants(many rare one's from around the world) in approximately 14,000 sq. ft. of raised beds & terraces. More than 1000 more are grown in pots.
I'm keeping a watchful eye for the Hibiscus, as I drive through the neighborhood. If it was taken by some of the unsupervised "school's out, so let's have some fun" rascals, it may be sitting unnoticed on someone's doorstep.
Thanks again to all.

I just feel awful for you.....I really don't know what I'd do in this situation. I think everyone here has already given some really good advice, and I sure hope the surveillance camera works out for you. Hope you catch them in action!!! Let us know...

I have a couple of the white blooming variegated serissa. I'll be more than glad to send you some for postage if the pink one's they swiped were all you had...Just e-mail me.

A month or so ago, we were in the backyard and had left the garage door open. Someone came into the garage and took a flat of cucumbers seedlings. It wasn't that valuable, but we were really sad to think that someone would do that. Now we keep the garage closed and the gates locked. Not being able to trust is far more painful that loosing the plants. So I keep telling myself that I hope they have a great cucumber harvest and they share with their friends and family. But a small part of me fantisizes about them choking on that first white wonder cuke!

Patty

I am so sorry. I guess I need to be more careful too. I leave new plants outside the garage in plain view all night sometimes for days if I plan to plant them up front. I guess it just goes to show that people will steal anything. I do believe that a plant aquired through unscrupulous means will die, so I would take comfort in that.