Leafy looting at Hamilton’s Gardens
A rare plant apparently ripped up and stolen in broad daylight from Hamilton Gardens could have been the target of green fingered thieves looking to harvest big bucks.
It’s not the first time the public gardens have been the victim of stolen plants, according to a houseplant enthusiast.
A plantsman, who didn’t want to be named, was at the gardens last Friday when he came across a rare Philodendron verrucosum in the conservatory that had put out several new leaves since he was there last.
‘‘I took some photos and put a photo on the Indoor Plants [Facebook] page last week,’’ he said.
‘‘I went back on [Wednesday] to have a look at some other plants – I’m really into my indoor plants — and I noticed the whole plant had been ripped out, right off its pole in the corner of the greenhouse.
‘‘I was speaking to the guy that was in there tending the garden… he said they get a lot of theft and it happens all the time, but we can’t do anything about it.’’
The timing of the theft was believed to be on Wednesday before 3pm.
Hamilton City Council refused to comment on the incident beyond confirming there had been a ‘‘theft of some plant material from Hamilton Gardens,’’ that had been referred to police.
Police were also unable to comment. The plantsman was keeping an eye on Trade Me after hearing a garden centre had been burgled and expensive plants were appearing on the auction website for sale.
He said a plant very similar to the one he had seen at the gardens was listed for sale at $700. It had no root growth as it appeared to have been cut off.