Anger grows at flower thieves in Toowoomba suburb

A TOOWOOMBA couple has been left frustrated after an attempt to brighten their street was thwarted for a third time by plant thieves.

PLANT thieves are at the root of a problem plaguing an East Toowoomba couple living near Queens Park.

After moving into their house a year ago, John Rivett and Jane Hardy decided they would plant grevilleas underneath a palm tree on the road outside.

"When the Carnival of Flowers is on, this street is a busy street," Ms Hardy said.

"(The carnival) is such a big thing for Toowoomba, we thought we would put a nice little garden here.

"We also thought the grevilleas could help feed the birds too."

All was going well until December last year, when the first thieves struck.

"The first lot went at Christmas time, the next went soon after that," she said.

"Then nobody came again until this week, we had planted advanced ones, and they just ripped them out.

"We had just been to Bunnings (to buy) the native fertiliser and got the garden all ready on Sunday afternoon, and by Monday morning they were gone."

Ms Hardy said the thefts were a shame when the plants were there for everyone to enjoy.

"It's just a disappointment is all," she said.

"I think it's really poor - when someone has put effort in to have a nice garden to complement the Carnival of Flowers, it's just off.

"It's the expense of it too, you know how dear plants are these days."

The couple has now placed a sign on the tree outside their home, warning would-be thieves.

Ms Hardy said although she and her partner had been left frustrated by the third theft, it also hinted at something more sinister.

"I think it could be the same person doing it," she said.

"It's somebody who knows, who targets the area - there might be someone watching what you're doing, which is a scary thing.

"They must come in a car because there is no dirt (trailed) down the road."

Three grevilleas still remain in the garden bed, too deeply rooted to be ripped out.

Ms Hardy said although they were unsure if they would plant more in the space, they have installed a security camera to weed out would-be thieves.

"You sort of think they wouldn't bother again," she said.

"I was awake all night thinking I could hear someone down there again.

"There may be other people who are having their plants stolen too, and maybe someone knows someone who has grevilleas all of a sudden."