Beauty Stolen While They Sleep

There has been a rash of plant thefts in the Fountain Valley-Huntington Beach area by thieves who come in the night and rip us off while we sleep. We wake up the next morning to find our huge planters stolen right off the front steps of our residences.

Not only is it costly to replace, but tender loving care has been incorporated into the care of this greenery, which adds beauty to the community. Even my hanging wire baskets went with the culprits.

The baskets contained soil from my back yard, which made them usually heavy, so if you purchased hanging foliage at the swap meet lacking a professional touch, they were probably mine. Also, if you bought a gorgeous fern about six months ago that was planted in the top of my daughter’s old hair dryer, that was mine too.

The sneak thieves usually go for the heavier, more expensive pots; the ones that your kids gave you last Christmas or that your mother gave you when she was alive as a gift for your home because you couldn’t afford to buy it at the time.

It has reached a sad point in life when every truck or van that drives by is suspect. What a shame these people can’t get a job like the rest of us and earn their possessions.

In no way do I wish to discredit the legitimate operators of plant stands at the swap meets, but if there’s a huge variety of containers, some with a homemade touch, be wary.

TERRY WOLCHEK

Fountain Valley