The great harvest heist... how thieves stole an entire veg crop
YOU’D imagine thieves would try to avoid making a meal of a heist.
But a muck-raking gang may not have a choice after stealing an entire vegetable crop from a park allotment.
The raiders made off with 1,000 carrots and 400 leeks and swedes growing in Glasgow’s Pollok Country Park. Onions, celeriac, beetroot and turnips were also taken.
The theft of more than 900lb of produce was discovered by staff on Monday morning. They believe it was carried out by a gang after finding suspicious footprints in the soil.
Garden supervisor Stevie Burns said the theft was on the ‘largest scale’ he had ever seen. He added: ‘Not just one person could have done this. This was not random.
‘It is too late in the year to plant anything new, it was getting time to crop. That’s why they have targeted us at this point – they must have known the crop was ready. They also must have had transport as we are a mile from any gate to get out. We followed the trail of detritus to Pollok House car park and they’ve obviously taken them along there and driven off.’
The crops are used mainly at nearby Pollok House, run by the National Trust for Scotland, but extra food is given to charities to benefit local people who may not be able to afford fresh vegetables.
Because it is too late in the year to plant any more seeds, Mr Burns said many people would lose out.
He added: ‘We’re all so shocked. I have never seen anything like this here, and I’ve been working here for a long, long time.
‘Occasionally we would get a cabbage stolen or something. We wouldn’t encourage it but if someone is hungry and they need it, then we understand.
‘This isn’t for someone’s dinner though. One person cannot eat all of this. It’s a real disappointment for our gardener, Paul Hilton, and everyone else who works here.’
Councillor Anna richardson, city convener for sustainability and carbon reduction, said: ‘This is an appalling act of selfishness.’
Police have started an investigation.