Oakland’s Crime Statistics include Flower Poaching!

We’ve all heard of the typical burglar who comes in the night, breaks into your house and steals your lifelong trophies and possessions, but how many of us have heard of flower poaching?

For homeowners in Rockridge, Oakland, this is a common occurrence. Each year, dedicated gardeners in Rockridge spend their time and effort planting beautiful front gardens of lilies, hydrangeas and rose beds – only to wake up to find them missing! And to make matters worse, their Dogwood and Japanese maple trees get stripped completely bare! Apparently some are even dug up by their roots and taken away in the night! Dogwood’s grow over six foot tall! Amazing what some people can do if there’s money involved!

One homeowner has even said, “Every time I look at the tree in bloom it breaks my heart because I know it’s going to be poached,” but what can the police do? After residents’ searching local florists and marketplaces to find no evidence it seems this flower poaching is not only on the increase but also, to the outrage of the local community, a very low priority for the local police!

A pity really to see such beautiful neighbourhoods being destroyed by people looking to make an easy dollar. The best idea would probably be for the residents’ to implement their own off-the-house CCTV system to catch these guys in action! Good Luck with finding the poachers, Rockridge!

(29.04.09, Parks, R. East Bay Express)

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