Couple wake to a plundered garden

Robyn and Alan Thomson survey the remains of their garden yesterday after 14 plants were stolen from outside their St Clair, Dunedin home. Photo by Gerard OBrien.

Forget Bunnings or Mitre 10 Mega: one brazen thief turned to suburban Dunedin for garden supplies at the weekend, much to the disdain of Alan Thomson.

Mr Thomson and his wife, Robyn, woke yesterday to discover half of their front garden gone and a trail of dirt leading up the street.

Holes were left where 14 40cm-high libertia plants once sat, and the trail stopped at the corner.

"It's bizarre. Why the hell would you bother?"

The plants, worth about $160, had been in the garden, outside the couple's bedroom window, since November. They believed new double-glazing stopped them hearing any commotion.

However, they are not alone in having had plants stolen, as their neighbours informed them they had had two potted plants taken from outside their house over Easter.

"The pots are there but the plants are not."

The Thomsons hoped the rest of their plants would remain in place and the others would be replaced.

"We were growing rather fond of those plants," Mr Thomson said.