Herbal larceny

[westernind]

Someone stole one of the plant containers from my front garden whilst we were in Arundel over the weekend. Not expensive, or heavy; a small oval wooden trough which was full of parsley, on the plant stand just inside the garden gate. He had opened the gate, stood outside the front door, and had a good look around before deciding which container to take. Then he picked it up and walked off down the road.

I know this because Chris over the road came round this evening and told me he'd seen it happen. He hadn't done anything because he was so gobsmacked it would happen in broad daylight that he assumed there must be a valid explanation. Chris also recognised the perpetrator - a guy who sometimes plays the accordian in Ilford town centre.

Now what? It's so petty. The trough cost maybe a fiver, and a quid for the parsley. But I don't want to let it lie because I don't want other containers to go missing, or their contents; I like making my tiny garden colourful and green, and it makes the street scene nicer. I don't want to have to chain the pots to the stand, or get anxious wondering who's nicking my stuff. Neither does Chris. His big container plants lived on my drive for three weeks this summer, to get regularly watered while he and his family were on holiday.

Possible choices are let it lie (ha!), or give the perp a piece of my mind when I see him and demand he give back the trough, or nip into the police station tomorrow morning and create them a shiny new statistic, with the carrot that it's eminently solvable as there was a reliable witness. How bloody pathetic though?

Comments

[cookwitch.livejournal.com]

I'd be so tempted to walk up and do the Piece of My Mind thing. That is a horrible thing to do to you.

[lanyer.livejournal.com]

I have to admit walking up to him while he plays and asking what he thought of the parsley would be appealing.

[itsjustaname.livejournal.com]

How about option D, don't do anything this time but warn Chris and your other neighbours to keep a look out, say you'll do the same for them, and that if he is about he's not meant to be there, is likely to be theiving and they should call the police.

The problem I see with the piece of mind option is you're basically just haranguing a man in the street who'll likely flatly deny it and where does that get you? And the problem with the police option is that it's a bit excessive for the crime and likely isn't going to achieve anything either.

Whereas if he does it again, then police definitely.

[westernind.livejournal.com]

An approach based on Sun Tzu is more profitable; allow retreat (save face).

[marcushill.livejournal.com]

I'd be going straight to the police. I don't give a toss how valuable something is, if someone steals my property I will do my utmost to fuck them up entirely. In the same way, if a kid scratches my car, even if it's something that will come out with a bit of T-cut, I'll be making sure they have a record for criminal damage.

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

That's just weird.

I'd go for Option E, which is to plant out a couple of nasty stingy things in attractive pots.

[westernind.livejournal.com]

It's just occurred to me that he might have thought there could be a spare front door key buried in there.

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

That...makes a lot of sense, actually.

Perhaps the police after all.

[greatbigshowoff.livejournal.com]

I'd go for police - you have a witness

[hortorum.livejournal.com]

Book him Danno...

What's the charge?

Grand theft pesto...

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

I'd Weatherwax him.
I'd sidle up behind him and tell him in a low whisper that I knew he stole my garden tub, because although I was away - I was watching. Then I would stare at him a little. Say nothing more and then leave.

[cookwitch.livejournal.com]

This. OH YES this.

[bytepilot.livejournal.com]

Got to report it, becasue if he's so damn calm about just stealing things he's done it before, and is going to do it again.

Next time he probably won't stop at a tub of parsely.