Breadcrumbs
Crime affecting Horticultural Businesses
At Horticulture Week we have found ourselves covering an increasing number of incidents of crime at horticultural businesses. Some of these have been violent robberies and very frightening for people on the premises at the time. In this section you will find stories we have run in the past year on companies that have been affected.
In addition, we have launched a map charting the locations of the robberies, which we hope will help to raise awareness and focus the attention of the relevant authorities and industry bodies on a problem that appears to have grown as the recession has deepened.
If you have direct knowledge of any crime affecting horticultural businesses email us at hortweek@haymarket.com.
Horticultural Crime Map
Horticultural crime news
Police set sights on heritage crimes
01 April 2011A special police operation organised in conjunction with English Heritage is inviting local authorities and community groups to help fight crimes against heritage sites.
British Retail Consortium survey shows retail crime fall thanks to security investment
24 January 2011Investment in crime prevention has resulted in fewer incidents of most types of retail crime but retailers have yet to reap the financial benefits, according to new statistics.
Police discover 200 Christmas trees at farm after thefts
14 January 2011Police investigating the large-scale theft of Christmas trees from garden centres in Dorset have discovered 200 at a farm. A 64-year-old man has been arrested and released on bail.
Garden centre Christmas tree warning after £8,000 theft
02 December 2010Redfields garden centre in Fleet, Hampshire, has had six pallets of Christmas trees worth £8,000 stolen last weekend 27-28 November.
Annual thefts of agricultural machinery hit £70m
09 July 2010Growers, farmers and other land-based businesses have been hit by a spate of thefts including the latest loss of a £60,000 tractor.
Royal Horticultural Society improves security after £40,000 book theft
02 July 2010The RHS has been forced to improve its security after a serial book thief stole a rare work worth £40,000. The theft was discovered in 2007 but the legal case was only concluded last week.
Police appeal for witnesses
16 April 2010Police are appealing for witnesses after lawnmowers were stolen from Wyevale Garden Centre in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, on 28 March.
Gardens warned to be on high alert against theft of prized bulbs and plants
26 March 2010The largest supplier of named bulbs in the UK has warned other gardens to increase vigilance against theft after having varieties worth up to £30 each stolen from its grounds.
Garden centre boss targeted at home in violent robbery warns industry to be vigilant
26 March 2010Poplar Garden Centre managing director David Little has warned garden centre owners to be more vigilant after he was the victim of an aggravated burglary last week.
Thieves use crane to steal £10,000 worth of Christmas trees
01 December 2009Thieves have used a crane to steal 240 Christmas trees worth up to £10,000 from Stewarts GardenLands in Christchurch, Dorset.
Robbers force staff to open safe at Buckingham Nurseries & Garden Centre, stealing £17,000
04 November 2009Three men have been charged with robbery after more than £17,000 was stolen from Buckingham Nurseries & Garden Centre last week.
Garden writer Hugh Johnson closes Saling Hall after garden statue thefts
19 August 2009Garden and wine writer Hugh Johnson's home Saling Hall in Essex has twice been robbed of valuable garden ornaments, leading Johnson to dispense with public opening days for fear that thieves will use the opportunity to "case" the property.
Chainsaws, strimmers and leaf blower stolen from Wrights Mower Centre
17 August 2009Thieves broke into Wrights Mower Centre, in Royston, Hertfordshire, last week and made off with Stihl chainsaws, strimmers and a leaf blower.
Over £17,000 of kit stolen from Echo Tools
30 June 2009More than £17,000 of gardening tools were stolen during a break in at Echo Tools in Thame.
Additional Information
Latest jobs Jobs web feed
- Gardener (fixed-term) Prestigious private Estate near Guildford £18,000 pro rata, Near Guildford & Woking, Surrey
- FE Lecturer in Horticulture Writtle College Qualified Lecturer: £27,428 p.a. pro rata, Unqualified Lecturer: £23,661 p.a. pro rata, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex
- Garden Maintenance Supervisor Hewitt Landscapes Ltd Salary dependent on whether the role is full- or part-time., Various locations in North-West, West and South-West London
- Factory Manager Henderson Brown Recruitment £50000 - £60000 per annum + Benefits, Spalding
- Skilled Hard Landscaper (16139) Anders Plus £22 - £25k, London & Surrey
In This Issue
NEWS: Senior parks staff exodus sparks alarm across capital
RETAIL: Garden centres look to supermarkets
MARKET REPORT: Ride-on mowers
INTERVIEW: Cruickshank Botanic Garden curator Mark Paterson
EDIBLES: Brassica conference news round-up
Latest Tenders
Contract for the Supply of Horticultural Machinery & Equipment
Sunderland City Council
CONTRACTS FOR THE SUPPLY OF PARKS
MAINTENANCE AND TREES MAINTENANCE
Wandsworth Borough Council
