Pensioner 'devastated' by theft of plants
THE mystery of two disappearing flower pots in full bloom is being investigated by police.
A pensioner's two blooming planters were stolen from a property in Lummaton Cross, Torquay, last week.
Gretta Sheppard, 73, walked outside her front door last Wednesday morning to find her beloved flowers missing.
The plants that normally live beside the front door had vanished overnight.
Gretta said: "I was devastated when I saw they were missing.
"They were in full flower and one of them was given to me by my son for Mothers' Day.
"I walked up the road looking for them but no joy."
Gretta added: "One was mixed pansies and mixed flowers, the other was a patio rose.
"I was especially upset about the patio rose because that was the one my son gave me.
"I have another planter that wasn't in flower and that wasn't taken."
Gretta spends a lot of time tending her flowers and partner Pete Foxon, 71, described her as 'very green fingered'.
He said they would be 'over the moon' if the plants were returned.
A police spokesman confirmed the incident had been reported.
He said: "We are investigating the theft of the plant pots.
"We ask that anyone who thinks they may have some information to contact crime stoppers on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference number FT092583."
5 Comments
by Ali, Paignton
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 11:36PM
“My daughter went to tidy up her window boxes and some scumbag had tipped the plants and soil on the drive and stolen the boxes. No point calling the police or replacing the boxes.”
by Linda, torquay
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 11:03PM
“I would like to offer some support to Gretta as there seems to be little on the comments page. she had her Mothering Sunday present stolen by some thieving scumbag, I would say she is entitled to be upset. Theft is theft and the same person is probably thieving elsewhere too so I would hope the police do trace the offender, Yes, I agree it does seem a minor offence but to Greta it has caused her a great deal of distress. It is a pity there are so few police officers for so many crimes.”
by G Nome, Torbay
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 1:40PM
“I fell sorry for Gretta as it can't be nice for this sort of thing to happen, but would make the following points;
1) 73 isn't actually that old. If Gretta had been 103, I might have understood her "devastation" a bit more. I suspect that someone at the HE has been trying to "sex" this story up a bit...
2) Pansies and patio roses aren't exactly rare or difficult to grow, especially for someone who is "very green-fingered."
I genuinely hope Gretta gets her flowers back, but it does seem to be quite a lot of fuss over a minor setback.”
by frustrated, galmpton
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 12:41PM
“someone needs to have a review of police priorities for sure, my son was assualted in an unprovoked attack in Brixham on Friday night & quite badly injured, we spent 4 hours in casualty after reporting the incident via a 999 call. 5 days later we still have had no visit from the police to take an official statement although they have rung twice to tell us they 'are too busy at the moment', obviously I can see why some plants would take precedent. I am disgusted.”
by David Nicol, Torquay
Tuesday, April 14 2009, 11:16AM
“Must be a poor news day!”