Kitchen Garden Forum

Got a phone call lunchtime from the council, your site has had a shed broken into.

Some little scrotes had unpicked the chainlink, picked a spade off the plot they passed across, smashed a coldframe and smashed through the side of a shed.

Nothing taken.

So instead of planting onion sets this evening I've been reknitting chainlink etc.

Dear Peter,
sympathies.
there is a special security paint that never dries, could some of that be smeared over the chain link. It may stop further incursions.
Regards Sally Wright.

Hi Sally,
What a super idea! At least you have a chance of catching them.
JB.

Sorry to read that Peter.

I was just wondering if anyone is old enogh to remember, if these things were going on 30 years or more years ago?

Hi OH,
Now that I have entered the 'short term memory loss' phase of my life I cannot remember 30 years ago but 60 years ago it was going on then!
JB.

I can go back to the late 1950's when all our gooseberries were taken,not broken into, short while afterwards the land was taken over and Ansells had a big building on the site. We didn't bother with another allotment till the early 80's,young family, work ect.
We have been broken into many times since, twice over last Christmas/New Year 2009.
Bren

I can't go back as far a Johnboy, but these sort of things have always gone on and allotments have always been easy targets for theft, and, like other empty spaces, a target for destructive behaviour - the satisfying sound of broken glass etc.

I don't really think there is much new under the sun. Just that in my young days people were more wary of being caught and being subjected to summary justice - a clip round the ear or a kick up the backside.

Perhaps terrorists inspired by religious extremism (whether so-called Christian sects or Islam) might seem a new and frightening threat. But, although I don't remember it, the world I was born into was largely under the control of or threat of destruction by Hitler's madmen. We have a lot to be thankful for.

I would be wary of using the anti-vandal paint without the council's permission. Some won't allow it as it can have repercussions against them. Check first. Also warning notices do have to be put up if you do use it.

Beryl.

Thankfully, I've not had any problems on my plot, although I've only had it a year. Some of the old timers tell me we do get theft and vandalism problems from time to time but they generally tend to be done by a small group of thugs who do it for a while and then get bored and it dies down for a bit before the next group of young hoodlums takes their place.

I'm supposed to be getting a shed on my plot this year. I hope it gets left alone.

FA x

My shed (at home) was broken into recently, padlock cut through with bolt croppers. All that was taken was an extension cable drum (50 metres). There were electric tools (strimmer, hedge cutter, chain saw, lawn mower and Mantis Tiller) and McCulloch petrol strimmer. I think the reason they did not take them was because there were a lot of stuff, like barrow, 4 wheeled trolley, folding chair, various tools (forks, spades etc) all chucked in the gangway so they couldn't get in without making a lot of noise. I have learnt now to keep everything very untidy in the sheds.