The theft of fruits and vegetables from a community garden in Bowmanville has left the gardeners feeling "disgusting and sad." The Liberty Allotment Gardens, which has been in operation for 12 years, has 56 plots for the community to rent, including a plot for organic produce donation to the local food bank.
The garden coordinator, who wishes to remain anonymous, reported that a man has been stealing from the garden plots on multiple occasions, taking over 150 heads of garlic, 100 onions, and cucumbers. The thief was caught on security video wearing a brightly colored shirt and was seen leaving the garden with a black duffel bag full of stolen produce.
The thefts began in June and have since escalated into full-blown shopping trips, with the thief taking advantage of the garden's vulnerable plots. The gardeners work hard to maintain their gardens, and the thefts have left them feeling disrespected and frustrated.
The garden has experienced thefts in the past, but this brazen thief has taken it to a new level. The city has refused to allow for an electric fence or raising the existing one, leaving the gardeners to rely on security footage and social media to identify the culprit.
The garden coordinator is working on filing a police report and hopes that the thief will be recognized or identified, putting an end to the thefts. "Somebody has to know this person," they said. "Are they local to our town, are they not local, no idea."
The thefts have left the gardeners feeling fed up, but they remain committed to their community garden and the importance of growing their own food. The Liberty Allotment Gardens has become a vital resource for families and seniors on limited incomes, providing fresh produce to those who need it most.
