Locals determined to overcome tree thief after six trees were dug up in Coburg North

Locals who spent multiple years preparing their street for a set of new trees were left disappointed when a heartless thief dug them up.

Residents of Mathieson St were left devastated by a heartless tree thief. Picture: Ellen Smith

Disappointed residents of a street in Coburg North have vowed to continue installing greenery despite six trees being stolen after years of work to establish them.

People in Mathieson St woke up to find the trees had been dug up and removed shortly before midnight on January 3.

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Pablo Teves has lived in the street for 22 years and led the charge to plant the trees, including an Illawarra flame tree his mother had grown from a seed about 15 years ago.

The stakes remain where the trees were stolen in Mathieson St. Picture: Ellen Smith

Mr Teves said residents had spent two years consulting with Moreland Council on how to remove packed sand at the west end of the road to begin planting and held two separate working bees to dig up the ground themselves.

Footage captured on CCTV showed a man removing the trees and loading them into a car in a 40-minute span from 11.10pm.

CCTV footage of a man stealing trees on January 3.

“It’s just a pretty low act, I was just so angry when I found out,” Mr Teves said. “That was a really special tree that my mum had grown and given to me. She’s elderly now and that was going to be in our lives after her.”

Mr Teves’ wife Fiona said children from the street had been keen to help with the planting and had asked why the trees were removed since the theft.

“This area has improved over the past 20 years but this was just so disappointing and we don’t want it to happen elsewhere,” she said.

The council’s city infrastructure director Grant Thorne said the theft of the trees was disappointing for residents who were looking to enhance their street.

“We encourage anyone in our community who sees plants being taken from nature strips to report it to the police,” he said.

Residents held multiple working bees to plant the trees.

Mr Teves said he spent a few days stewing over the theft after it occurred but had started preparing to dig the next hole.

“I have got four trees here that are going in soon,” he said.

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