Sick basket bandits steal blooms from charity shop
Govan group vows to replace stolen plants
A COMMUNITY is seeing red after green-fingered thieves stole hanging baskets from outside a charity shop in broad daylight.
Govan-based charity Starter Packs was gifted £600 from the Evening Times’ Streets Ahead campaign to buy the baskets to hang outside their Magpie’s Nest Retro Thrift Store and The Magpie’s Eye arts and craft charity shops, in Burleigh Street.
Development manager, Sarah Findlay had bought a selection of black baskets with pink and purple flowers, for the shop fronts.
But although great care was taken with the plants – being brought inside at night – the baskets outside the Magpie’s Eye shop were taken during the day.
Ms Findlay said: “Where the charity shop is, it’s a blindspot for the CCTV, so we don’t know who took them.
“It’s a shame, but we’ve replaced them and we’ll keep on replacing them.
“Maybe the thieves liked them so much, they wanted one.”
Gavin Dunbar, manager at the Magpie’s Eye, said: “It’s a shame, especially when you’re doing your best to make the area look nicer.”
The charity, a winner of an Evening Times- backed Glasgow Community Champion award, gives practical
Where the charity shop is, it’s in a blindspot for the CCTV
help and household items to help previously homeless people set up home.
Last year it helped more than 2200 people, and referrals have increased this year by 35%, which included helping almost 700 GHA tenants set up home earlier this year.
Ms Findlay first thought of applying to the Streets Ahead campaign after she was inspired by floral arrangements in other parts of the city.
She said: “We thought it would be nice to have some baskets as well.
“Getting the money was great, because it wasn’t just for us, it was for the whole street, we’re a city charity but we are based in Govan, so it’s nice to feel that community spirit.”
Rosina Martin, manager at neighbouring Cut Price Blinds, said: “It can be quite a drab street and we don’t get the sun on our side, so the flowers brighten things up.
“I can’t believe someone would take the baskets right outside the charity shop, to do that is awful, especially if they live in the area.”
Louise MacDonald, owner of the L J Beauty Salon, is a new resident to the street, only opening her business three weeks ago.
Anyone who knows me, knows this won’t dampen our spirits
She said: “It was great to receive a basket when I have just got here and, because everyone in the street has one, it gives the area a nice vibe.
“I think it’s terrible someone would steal one of them.
“Stealing flowers outside a charity shop, it’s quite disrespectful.”
Ms Findlay is determined the thefts won’t put her off helping to improve the area.
She said: “We try not to dwell on it, we’ll keep replacing them.
“Anyone who knows me, and the project, knows this won’t dampen our spirits.”