Fairview Park grandmother catches owl-shaped garden gnome thief on camera

A northeastern suburbs grandma has blasted a leopard print-clad neighbour’s bizarre theft – with the culprit caught red-handed on camera.

A northeastern suburbs grandmother has launched a vigilante bid to have a precious decoration returned, after a leopard print-wearing thief was caught red-handed on camera.

Mishell Maddison shared footage of a woman sneaking into the front yard of her Fairview Park home and nabbing a owl-shape garden gnome just after 6.30pm on Sunday night.

Video shows the culprit, who appears to be a middle-aged woman wearing top-to-toe leopard print and a red bandana, peering around the front yard before picking up the owl and taking off down the street.

Ms Maddison said, while the ornament had no real monetary value, it was sentimental to her family as it belonged to her grandson.

A middle-aged gnome thief has been caught on camera, making off with a Fairview Park grandmother’s precious ornament. Picture: Supplied

The grandmother believed she knew who the thief was and had left a note in her letterbox, requesting she return the owl – to no avail.

She then shared the footage to social media in the hopes of flushing the culprit out.

“I hoped she would be decent and return the items once she knew she was caught,” she said.

“She didn’t return the items … so here you go. Hope you enjoy seeing yourself on my doorbell camera.”

Ms Maddison said she still hoped the owl would be returned safe and sound but, if the beloved ornament was not home soon, would be filing a police report over the incident.

Youths’ brazen destruction caught on camera

Last week, a gang of youths was caught brazenly smashing garden decorations in a front yard, leaving the home’s resident fuming and fearful of leaving her property unattended in the future.

Just before 6pm last Tuesday, Daisy Williams’ security cameras caught three youths in hoodies and gloves lurking outside her Mount Gambier home’s front garden, which is decorated with painted terracotta pots designed to look like colourful monsters.

The footage shows two boys jog into the camera’s frame and quickly snatch two garden decorations from the garden before running off.

Youths caught on camera snatching and smashing support worker's garden decorations. Image: Supplied

Youths caught on camera snatching and smashing support worker's garden decorations. Image: Supplied

A Mount Gambier support worker has been left fuming after a group of youths snatched and smashed several of her garden decorations. Picture: Jessica Dempster

Cameras located on the side of the property then show the duo, now joined by a third accomplice, throwing the pots up into the air before eventually tiring of their game and smashing them on the ground.

Ms Williams, 52, a support carer, said the incident has left her “absolutely fuming”.

“I’m so angry,” she told The Advertiser. “Just the absolute nerve and disrespect of those kids to do that to someone else’s property and for what? What do they get out of it?”

The destroyed decorations were art projects completed by Ms Williams’ client and godson.

A Mount Gambier support worker has been left fuming after a group of youths snatched and smashed several of her garden decorations. Picture: Jessica Dempster

“They took us ages to make,” Ms Williams said.

She said Tuesday’s “disgusting” act came after a rise in vandalism and problems with youths in the neighbourhood, saying a group of kids had jumped her fence and turned off her hot water system.

Several of her neighbours in the Conroe Heights area are having trouble with youths harassing them and damaging their property, she said.

“What’s this town coming to?” Ms Williams asked. “You can have your home security as tight as Fort Knox but it just doesn’t stop them, they clearly think messing, scaring and upsetting people is a game.

“It makes you scared to leave your house even just to run an errand, let alone go away on holiday, even when you’re home they’re out there pulling stunts like this.”

Ms Williams said after she saw the footage and realised damage had been done to her property she called the police who sent a patrol car out to scan the neighbourhood.

A spokesperson from SAPOL said local police are aware of reports of anti-social behaviour within the Conroe Heights area of Mount Gambier and are investigating.

They have also increased patrols of the area.

Ms Williams said she’d like the youths to be held accountable and apologise.

“A slap on the wrist isn’t good enough, there needs to be severe consequences for their actions that’ll make sure they won’t do this again.”