Cymbidium theft

[burz]

Every one may have already seen this but maybe not. Unfortunately this is something that crossed my mind planning on taking my cyms and zygo outside for the summer. I'm not worried because I really dont think I have anything that valuable. But read this, I found it browsing the web

Gold Coast Cymbidium Growers - ****************** Major Orchid Theft

[WhiteRabbit]

I remember reading this some time ago - seems the thieves knew what they were taking.

I have orchids out front of my home - nothing valuable, but especially when Cyms are blooming, it crosses my mind that someone might take them, just because of the look of a good sized Cym in bloom - someone thinking to impress their mom or significant other with one as a gift I'd hate to lose any (even my noids - been growing them a number of years, I like them, and am attached to them), but, so far haven't *knocks wood* - and the light in the front (morning - aaaaalllll morning in summer), is by far the best.

[Paul Mc]

Sad... Just sad... Seems like no one can own anything nice and valued/cherished without someone else wanting to destroy it or take it from them... Sigh...

On this very forum a few years back, someone posted that they left for vacation and left a friend to water the orchids. They were all in the backyard and this particular poster lived out in the middle of no-where. It wasnt like this person was known for growing orchids or part of any society per say, but the friend called during the vacation to report that most were missing and the rest were smashed.

I take my orchids outside but have built a shade house for them with the ability to lock them up. It won't stop everything, but even a small thing may keep some from attempting to steal them. Sadly, our neighbors have reported items missing from their front yards, only to find them on someone else's porches in the neighborhood. These items were even hand painted by the original owners, so one of a kind. Just sad...

[FSUOrchids]

Around Halloween this year we had a pumpkin stolen right off of our front porch (which by the way is not near the street) in our neighborhood here. This is a very good neighborhood as well. I've also had political signs taken off of my lawn. Not sure why people feel like doing this. As a result all of my orchids go in the backyard.

[greengarden]

I have a few out the front but as soon as they start to flower they get moved inside or out the back. I don't need anyone getting tempted! When we moved we will have high fences and prickly tree across the front of our property so hopefully we'll be safe from potential thieves and door to door sales people. :P

[Ferns Daddy]

Why do some people think its ok to take some one else's plants, I work hard to get my potted plants to look good, I never put any thing out front unless its in the ground, every thing else is behind a 6' fence in the back yard with a fat little chihuahua to guard my potted plants

[Cym Ladye]

Unfortunately, there will always be the opportunist who may swipe a plant in bloom from your property, but this theft, publicized several years ago, was a preplanned act to take only the valuable prized, oddly marked, peloric, spotted, flared and striped plants. It was determined they had probably seen the collection in bloom prior to the theft or knew the names, as they stole them when they were out of bloom.

The plants have never been found not the thieves tracked down but all the growers in these greenhouses have taken serious precautions to see it does not happen again.

Cym Ladye

[kjennings94]

Omogosh, how horrible would it be if someone did theive your orchids! Let's how it will never happen again!!!

[Leafmite]

I always worry a bit about my plants but, so far, our neighbors and patrolling policemen keep a good guard on our little section of neighborhood during the summer. I put the plants in the front for that reason.
In our town, dogs, especially the smaller ones or collies, have been getting stolen and plants have been dug out from parks and yards.

[Bud]

The thief must be an orchid expert to be able to detect an expensive hybrid. Or someone who overheard how valuable it is....but then it is impossible to resell it. They will be caught.
These are orchid farms and I am sure it was an inside job. But for ordinary home owners with orchids in their front yards: I wouldn't have a clue what flowers are growing in the front lawn of a gated neighborhood....neighbors passing bye in a car will not notice if it was a Cymbidium or a plastic flower....so if you don't spread the word that you have $30,000.00 worth of landscaping flowers ....nobody will even bother to look at your lawn from a passing car.