Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: amphibian on September 06, 2006, 21:54:13

Title: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: amphibian on September 06, 2006, 21:54:13
I went up to my allotment today and someone has knicked nearly all of my pumpkins. Over 40 have gone and I have been left with only a few. They even took my massive Atlantic Giant, it must have taken them ages, and they'd have needed a vehicle.

Very angry.

It has pretty much summed up a disasterous year.
Title: Re: someone hs stollen my pumpkins
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 06, 2006, 21:55:42
That's disgusting. I suppose nobody saw anything. Were the pumpkins ripe? That sort of thing sounds like personal malice, as it's hard to see any other motive; what would they do with them all?
Title: Re: someone hs stollen my pumpkins
Post by: fbgrifter on September 06, 2006, 21:59:04
words fail me....i'm sickened...
Title: Re: someone hs stollen my pumpkins
Post by: wahaj on September 06, 2006, 22:00:37
could be anything....to take that many they could sell them on....halloween's not too far away and they'd be ok to store.

that's so awful. and an allotment is so hard work...and in the end what for eh?

i'm so sorry about what's happened. that's really terrible. bless ya!

*hug* what do you think you're going to do? i mean i know some people have had a couple of things stolen...and while that's terrible......i've never heard that many being stolen......would it be worth ringing the police?
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: mc55 on September 06, 2006, 22:11:15
how terrible - can you improve security around your plot to ensure future treasures aren't taken ?
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: redimp on September 06, 2006, 22:14:26
That is bloody disgusting >:(
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: chrispea27 on September 07, 2006, 07:08:08
got to add my anger to yours  and others

did nobody see anything at all ?
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: Larkspur on September 07, 2006, 07:17:09
Very sorry to hear that amphibian. A truly disgusting thing for anyone to do. :(
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: MrsKP on September 07, 2006, 07:46:50
Everytime I read one of these threads, it becomes more and more apparent why weedbusta has the level of security that she does.

Cattle prods are too good for these people, and at the end of the day it IS theft, so the police should be hauled in.  I know I would.

>:(
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: plot51A on September 07, 2006, 08:03:29
I was just appalled reading your post amphibian, thats terrible. So very sorry.
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: Emagggie on September 07, 2006, 08:05:58
That is the absolute pits  A, surely someone must have seen something, but whether they would admit to same is debatable I suppose. Hallowe'en sounds favourite, so eyes peeled locally for new souces of pumpkins!
Certainly agree it's a job for the plods.
You have my sympathy. :(
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: Chantenay on September 07, 2006, 09:04:55
I would watch out for them turning up at a market or car boot sale in the next few weeks. I notice the supermarkets have already started the halloween hype. I am sure you would recognise some of them, but I guess you can never prove it.
Your pumpkin patch must have looked like Hagrids - I am so sorry this has happened.
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: stuffed on September 07, 2006, 09:28:46
Really sorry to hear that. :'( :'(
Must've been planned for a while to organise such a big snatch. >:( >:( >:(
Maybe next year you could write your name in the skins before they harden, no trouble IDing them and that might stop the b******s taking them.
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: amphibian on September 07, 2006, 09:36:49
Security on our site is non-existant, but has not proved much of an issue before, many people keep their tools and barrows unlocked.

I'm not sure what could be done to improve it, the site used to be a row of cottages and each plot is entered through its very own gate, the old cottage gates. I suppose a single gate would improve the security, but I doubt the council would be prepared to do any work.

I will ask about to see if anyone saw anything, but our site is very quiet, and views from one plot to another are minimal.

Has anyone got any ideas for security, that I can impliment myself. I suppose covering everything with netting would make theft harder work.

I also realised that my Alantic Giant was large enough to make one person moving it very difficult.

I suspect that this was done by someone that intends to sell them.
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: amphibian on September 07, 2006, 09:40:42
Quote from: stuffed on September 07, 2006, 09:28:46
Really sorry to hear that. :'( :'(
Must've been planned for a while to organise such a big snatch. >:( >:( >:(
Maybe next year you could write your name in the skins before they harden, no trouble IDing them and that might stop the b******s taking them.

I was away on holiday for much of August, and now havee a broken leg so haven't been up there much. It may have been done over several weeks, or in one big hit, I wonder if others have had pumpkins nicked, I will ask around the site.

Marking them is great idea, it would certainly limit resale potential. Maybe I'll write, 'This pumpkin is stolen' all over them.
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: moonbells on September 07, 2006, 10:02:56
Oh I'm so sorry for you - I lost all my greengages 2 weeks ago - the whole tree stripped bare. I was livid.

I hope you have reported it to the police. Even if they do nothing, it makes their crime figures worse and they don't much like that. Course you could report each plant individually which makes them look even worse! Also a letter to the local rag? At least you could get an article in complaining about the loss? They usually love scandal like that!

I'm going to put my gooseberry and bramble prunings around my tree next year. If they get to them, then at least there may be DNA evidence!

moonbells

Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: sweet-pea on September 07, 2006, 10:33:54
I really feel for you amphibian.  I know I'd be extremely gutted if that happened to me.  I get so excited about my squashes and pumpkins, I'd be heartbroken if someone stole them.

I have problems with rats nibbling them, but at least they don't know any better.  Whoever took them is the lowest form of being.  I just can't understand how they can bring themselves to do such a cruel thing.

I'd definitely report it to the police. And I was going to suggest the writting in the skin idea too, I've never tried it but I think I'll use it next year too just in case as we have had thefts on our site too.
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: shirlton on September 07, 2006, 14:02:22
I'm afraid this behaviour is due to the society we now live in. Lots of people these days are of the opinion that they can have what they want even if it belongs to someone else. Some folks think that they shouldn't have to work to prosper they let silly b****rs like us do the hard work and they get the benefits of our laboours.The police really don't seem interested in pursuing these vandals, or even using the means to deter them. All we can do is report everything that happens and hope we get on their nerves enough to make them raect in someway. We musn't let te rogues win though, Just do what you can to protect your plots
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: Squashfan on September 07, 2006, 15:31:54
God amphibian, that's sickening! I was sooo upset when I lost one pumpkin but to lose the whole lot is awful!! :'( My sympathies are with you. 
I agree with shirlton, too many people don't think there's any harm when they buy other people's stuff off the back of a lorry.
I'd call the cops and make a fuss. I'd also ask around at the allotment. Good luck!
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: supersprout on September 07, 2006, 15:39:57
so sorry - and angry - amphibian >:(
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: Shas on September 07, 2006, 16:47:24
So sorry to hear about your theft.  It makes me so angry when people take things belonging to others, even more so when it's something you've nurtured all these months.

I hope they make soup with one of 'em, and it chokes 'em!!!!!
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: weedbusta on September 07, 2006, 17:48:08
I'm so sorry you had all your pumpkins stolen after all your hard work, i'd be absolutely gutted too.  >:( could you grow 'jaggies' around your plot, brambles, climbing roses etc. I'm training some over a security fence topped with barbed wire. if thieves/vandals really want in they'll get in, but hopefully I'll rip their clothes and skin to pieces in the process.  ;D
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: flossie on September 07, 2006, 18:40:22
Really sorry Amphi   :'(
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: saddad on September 07, 2006, 18:44:11
The B**tards, beyond that words fail me!
>:(
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: amphibian on September 07, 2006, 19:40:53
Quote from: weedbusta on September 07, 2006, 17:48:08
I'm so sorry you had all your pumpkins stolen after all your hard work, i'd be absolutely gutted too.  >:( could you grow 'jaggies' around your plot, brambles, climbing roses etc. I'm training some over a security fence topped with barbed wire. if thieves/vandals really want in they'll get in, but hopefully I'll rip their clothes and skin to pieces in the process.  ;D

Alas, our plots are very narrow, making living barriers unweildy, but I will investigate.
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: angle shades on September 07, 2006, 19:58:56
>:( very angry on your behalf, I had a melon taken, which seems nothing ,compared to whats happened to you,someone must have seen all those pumpkins walking off your plot, thinking of you/ shades x
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: silly billy on September 07, 2006, 21:13:36
someone hs stolen my pumpkins <<<<<<<< and your 'A' key from your keyboard  ;D ::)
Sorry.
Its a real shame (stating the obvious) and what makes it worse is theres a chance it will happen again and theres not much any of us can do to prevent the theft of our produce.I had my entire sweetcorn stolen by a badger but thats the 'joys' of allotment gardening.Sadly for you some thievin scum has stolen yours and it must be 100 times worse.
Sorry to hear your bad news but as U2 say "don't let the b@stards grind you down"
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: MrsKP on September 07, 2006, 21:31:56
at the very least the plod could send someone round and give you security suggestions.

i like the idea of writing on the skins.
Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: Gadfium on September 08, 2006, 00:03:04
I hope the Atlantic Giant falls on the thieving slaggards.

You must be gutted.

Title: Re: someone hs stolen my pumpkins
Post by: spacehopper on September 08, 2006, 10:17:11
Sorry to hear that, im disgusted.   >:( >:(