If you’ve ever lovingly planted a garden bed, only to find your prized grevilleas or kangaroo paws mysteriously missing, you’re not alone.
Across Australia, a new kind of neighbourhood nuisance is taking root—plant theft.
And it’s not just the odd pot plant vanishing in the night; entire garden beds are being stripped bare, leaving frustrated homeowners and a trail of empty holes in their wake.
The latest chapter in this green-fingered crime wave comes from Perth’s northwest, where Jasmine and her fellow townhouse residents have had enough.
After years of watching their carefully tended verge garden dwindle, they resorted to a desperate plea: a handwritten note, taped to a roadside tree, begging, ‘Please don’t steal our plants.’
The message, simple yet heartfelt, is a sign of just how exasperated these residents have become.
‘It’s been going on for years,’ Jasmine said, describing the situation as a ‘scandal’.
The group had recently pooled their own money to replant the verge with native flora, only to be hit by thieves less than 24 hours later.
‘Last year, we noticed the plants were going missing and being damaged. Eventually, there was only one kangaroo paw left—everything else had been taken.’
And Jasmine’s story is far from unique. Across community groups and local forums, Australians are sharing similar tales of garden grief.
In Adelaide’s Eden Hills, Andy Luke caught the ‘despicable’ act on his home security camera—twice in three weeks.
He suspects the plants are being resold, possibly by unscrupulous landscapers or backyard traders.
‘I think someone is either taking them and selling them, or they’re dodgy landscapers and someone had an order for English hedges and they decided to come and take them,’ Andy speculated.
Meanwhile, in Sydney’s west, a student was left ‘devastated’ after discovering $300 worth of plants had been dug up and stolen from outside her home.
The emotional toll is real—these aren’t just plants, but the result of hours of care, planning, and hope for a greener, more beautiful street.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. In a twist worthy of a detective novel, one Adelaide resident managed to track down their missing plants by hiding Apple Airtags in the soil.
The thief, no doubt expecting an easy score, was instead foiled by a bit of tech-savvy gardening.
So, why is plant theft on the rise? Experts suggest a combination of factors: the growing popularity of native and rare plants, the high cost of landscaping, and perhaps a few too many people looking for a shortcut to a lush garden.
With some mature plants fetching hundreds of dollars at nurseries, the temptation for would-be thieves is clear.
Unfortunately, police statistics don’t paint a full picture. In Western Australia (WA), plant theft is simply recorded as ‘theft’, making it hard to track the true scale of the problem.
Still, authorities urge anyone who witnesses suspicious activity—whether it’s a late-night digger or a van loitering a little too long—to report it to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online, and to contact police directly on 131 444 or via the WA Police Force website.
Local councils, too, are feeling the pinch. The City of Stirling, where Jasmine’s block is located, plants around 7,000 new trees each year.
‘Pruning, damaging, poisoning or removing a City street tree without prior approval is considered vandalism and penalties apply,’ a spokesperson said.
Beyond the environmental impact, the financial cost is significant—councils and residents alike invest time and money into creating green, welcoming spaces, only to see their efforts literally uprooted.
Even if it seems minor, reporting helps authorities track patterns and allocate resources.
And if you’re feeling particularly creative, maybe take a leaf out of Jasmine’s book and pen a heartfelt note. Sometimes, a little humanity can go a long way.
What are your thoughts on the rise of plant thefts in your area? Have you or someone you know experienced similar incidents? What measures do you think could help prevent these thefts and support affected residents?
Feel free to share your experiences and ideas in the comments below. Let’s help each other keep our suburbs green, beautiful, and just a little bit safer.
Also read: Shocking theft leaves Olympic legend $150,000 out of pocket
