Gnomed and shamed, the thieves who stole treasures
IT was a prized collection that had taken her years to build up.
But Gladys Smith was left devastated after her garden gnomes started to disappear one by one.
Police were yesterday investigating the theft of 37 of the novelty items from the grandmother’s home in Arbroath, Angus.
Mrs Smith, 81, who has taken eight surviving gnomes into her home for safe-keeping, said: ‘It took me a while to realise they were going missing. When it dawned on me they were gone, I was devastated.
‘They don’t have any value, really, they only cost me a few pounds each. It was just a little hobby I had. I didn’t collect any particular types, but I liked the funny or the cheeky ones.’ Mrs Smith placed the collection on her doorstep after moving into her home three years ago.
She said: ‘I like my garden to look nice and try to take care of it, but I was told that I wasn’t allowed to put any of the gnomes on the grass itself, so I had my collection just at the front door.
‘It’s not right to steal from an old lady like me. I hope it was just kids doing it for a laugh.
‘The gnomes were about a foot high and didn’t weigh very much. They may have been dumped somewhere and if they are found I will get them back.’
The mother of five, who has 14 grandchildren, added: ‘I am partially sighted but my dog Benny always barks when someone comes to the door.
‘He has been barking during the night but I wasn’t going to go and see who it was when it was dark.’
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Although they are of little monetary value, their owner is understandably upset at being the victim of this theft. If someone has taken them as a prank or because they think it is funny, we can assure them that it is not.’
The garden ornaments have experienced a revival thanks to the popularity of fantasy TV shows and movies such Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings.