Christmas tree garden centre thieves target Hampshire

Police said the thefts took place overnight, between 4.30pm on November 28 and 9am on November 29, and could be linked.

Thieves stole 49 Christmas trees from a car park area outside Park Place Farm Nursery in Titchfield Lane, Wickham.

Silver Springs Garden Centre in Fontley Road, Titchfield, had 100 trees stolen between 3.45am and 4.20am last Tuesday (November 29).

PC Martin Jones said: "Both these garden centres are in a rural location, but are on Fontley Road and Titchfield Lane which is a well-used route between Wickham and Titchfield.

"It is possible that members of the public may have seen something and presumed the trees were being delivered."

Anyone with any information is urged to call Hampshire Police on 101 or, if outside the county, on 0845 045 45 45.
Meanwhile, thieves broke into a garden centre and stole a netting machine used to wrap up Christmas trees.

Crooks took the machine after breaking into the Battlesbridge Mill Garden Centre, in Chelmsford Road, Battlesbridge, Essex.

The crooks cut their way through the fence to get at the machine.

Garden centre owner Alan Lodge said: "It’s just unbelievable. What next? Stealing Santa’s beard?"