Homeowners spend hours tending to their homes and, in extension, their gardens.

Nurturing plants and creating a little slice of paradise take a lot of time and effort.

Sometimes, these efforts get wasted due to a growing threat among homes in Australia.


A spate of late-night plant thefts have swept through quiet suburbs.

Eden Hills resident Andy Luke became the latest victim of this 'despicable' trend.

After pouring love into his newly planted garden, Andy was left fuming when a thief struck his home twice within three weeks.

The culprit, caught on Andy's home security camera, ripped out several English hedges while an accomplice kept watch.


The footage, however, did not capture the thief's face or vehicle registration.

'It's pretty despicable; I've put a lot of work into this,' Andy shared in an interview.

'Instead of driving around at two o'clock in the morning, get a life and get a job and buy your own plants.'

His neighbours have also lost plants and even irrigation equipment to late-night thieves.


Why are plants being targeted?

'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,' Andy speculated.

Unfortunately, protecting gardens from theft could be difficult.

'You can't tie them down,' Andy lamented, echoing the frustration of many gardening enthusiasts who feel powerless against these crimes.

Plant theft across the country has been on the rise.

In Sydney, a student was left devastated after $300 worth of plants were stolen from her front garden.

Meanwhile, New South Wales resident Dan Pearce discovered that parts of his newly-planted hedge had disappeared.

'I was absolutely gutted and instantly irate,' Mr Pearce shared.


Some residents started fighting back from theft with technology.

Several gardeners in Adelaide have hidden Apple AirTags in their plant pots.

These tags could help gardeners track down culprits and recover their beloved greenery.

What can homeowners do to protect their gardens?

• Install security cameras: While not foolproof, visible cameras can deter would-be thieves and provide valuable evidence if a crime does occur.
• Motion-activated lights: Sudden bright lights can startle intruders and make them think twice about targeting your property.
• Mark your plants: Use invisible ink or discreet tags to mark your plants. If they're recovered, you'll have proof they're yours.
• Get to know your neighbours: A close-knit community is one of the best defences against crime. Look out for each other and report any suspicious activity.
• Secure valuable plants: If you have particularly expensive or rare plants, consider planting them in less accessible areas or using heavy pots that are difficult to move.

For those who fall victim to plant theft, immediately report it to the police and share any security footage.

Any suspicious activity, plant-theft-related or not, can be reported to Crime Stoppers.
Have you ever encountered garden theft? Do you have any clever tips for keeping your plants safe? We would love to hear from you in the comments section below.