By Brendan Rees
An elderly Narre Warren South couple have been left devastated after heartless thieves ripped out plants from their front garden.
John Spellmeyer, 82, and his 77-year-old wife Henny say they were shocked to discover their beloved plants missing from their Robinswood Parade home on Tuesday 16 June after the culprits struck sometime between 4am and 7am.
Mr Spellmeyer said the culprits had pulled out nearly 10 plants including roses, geraniums and a magnolia tree – worth between $500 and $1000 in total.
“They trampled over some of the flowers,” Mr Spellmeyer said. “I had a big garden pot in the front of the house and we had a plant in there which was a metre high and that was pulled out.”
Mr Spellmeyer said the culprits appeared to be opportunistic as their garden is not fenced and “exposed to a lot of traffic”.
The couple, who have lived at their home for 20 years, also found a trail of soil on the front and side footpath.
According to Mr Spellmeyer, the bandits appeared to have driven a car over the nature strip after discovering tyre tracks and soil “spread all over the street next door”.
Mr Spellmeyer said his neighbour saw a car parked on the footpath in front of the couple’s garden early on the morning of the theft, which he described as as a “bit strange”.
He said his neighbour had to leave for work and couldn’t get a description of the car or the registration – but believed it may have been a Mazda.
Ms Spellmeyer said she was “so surprised” by the senseless act, saying her husband had “done a lot of work” to make the garden look impressive.
“You don’t expect something like that to happen,” she said, adding they had been asleep at the time of the offence.“There’s lots and lots of houses being built in the area and that’s a good way to start your garden or a cheap way to start your garden I suppose.”
Ms Spellmeyer added she had spent some time replacing some of the plants as her husband wasn’t able to after undergoing a knee replacement.
Narre Warren police have confirmed the incident and are investigating.“Police are investigating after a number of plants were stolen from a garden in Robinswood Parade, Narre Warren South,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.
Anyone with information about the theft is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
