Plant theft in Durban North leaves rose grower outraged
Bastow, who has devoted decades to gardening, says that the rose plant thefts damage more than just his property; they undermine the aesthetic and communal value of the neighbourhood.
A ROSE grower in Durban North says thieves are ripping rose plants from his and his neighbours’ gardens in a wave of plant theft that has left him frustrated and demanding action.
Stuart Bastow, a lifelong resident of Durban North for 71 years, says he has grown roses ever since completing school, and has spent the past 17 years pruning and maintaining them.
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He has over 1000 rose plants on his property and on adjacent verges; plants that, he says, add colour, beauty and value to the neighbourhood.
But recently, Bastow has noticed roses being stolen.
“About a month ago, I noticed five plants missing. Then for a whole week, five plants per night were taken,” he said.
Counting the cost
“The thieves simply pull them out of the ground, with roots and sand. Each stolen plant is worth roughly R200,” he added.
Last week, he said, another property on the same road lost three more plants.
“There’s a property on Chelsea Drive which I don’t maintain but stop to take a look at the roses. I noticed that three of the five plants had been ripped out.”
In total, Bastow estimates the losses add up to R8400.
Bastow said he has tried to deter the thieves. He had staff monitor and hide behind a wall one night, but that night the thieves never came. He also erected signs reading “Plant theft is a crime, you are being watched” but it hasn’t stopped the thefts.
He suspects the culprits are doing this by vehicle, noting sand trails up until the kerb before they stop, perhaps indicating cars pulling off the road quietly.
He said he has alerted local nurseries and is urging the community to stay vigilant and not purchase rose plants from a random person selling.
“If you see someone selling roses and they seem suspicious, don’t support them. Report it.”
Bastow aded that a lot of hard work and patience goes into growing and nurturing these plants.
“Stealing is stealing. No matter what.”
This is not an isolated problem. Residents of North Durban and Durban North have reported multiple incidents of plant theft from public verges and private gardens.
The Northglen News published an article in March stating that plant thefts in Durban North have included cycads, Bulbine, Strelitzias, Agapanthus and aloes, from areas such as Swapo Road, Riverside Road, Desai Crescent, and Bridgevale Nature Reserve.
These thefts provoked anger among residents and community organisations. In the article, the Durban North Conservancy expressed concern over the monetary cost of replacing the plants, and over the labour involved in planting, maintaining, and protecting these green features.
“Respect what people build with their hands. I take plant theft seriously,” he added.
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