Bag of compost stolen from pensioner's home

 MALVERN residents are being warned to be careful what they leave outside their homes after thieves entered a pensioner’s property and made off with a bag of compost she was going to use to tend her garden.

John Shuker contacted the Malvern Gazette after the 80-litre sack was stolen from his 82-yearold mother Betty’s doorstep in Bluebell Close, Poolbrook, overnight on Monday, March 12.

He described the theft as “bizarre”, but said it had unsettled his mother and showed that even the most innocuous of items could end up being stolen if left unattended.

“The bag of peat/compost was delivered to her front door without her knowledge and she only noticed it on the doorstep when she went to lock up at 10pm,” he explained. “As she couldn’t lift it and it was too late to get somebody else to move it, she decided to leave it until the morning. But when the housekeeper arrived at 8am and my mother asked her to carry it in, it had disappeared.”

Mr Shuker said the bag, which he said was worth about £20 or £30, was clearly labelled so there would have been no confusion as to exactly what was being taken.

“It sounds trivial but to an 82- year-old lady who lives on her own the thought of someone having the audacity to invade her privacy like this is not a happy one,”

He added. “It seems there are some people roaming the streets who will steal anything so I would urge other residents to keep an eye out.”

(Reproduced from the Malvern Gazette, 12th April)

Gardien Comment:  If thieves will steal something as unattractive as a bag of compost, think what will happen if items of any value are on display. Protect your property by following the advice at www.garden-security.co.uk