Thieves Going Green - By Taking Plants
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Del.icio.usThe Kailua community is invited to attend a meeting from 6:30 to 9 p.m. May 26 at Cinnamon’s Restaurant to discuss a spat of plant thefts from private and public property in the area.
According to Lynn Rogers of Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle’s beautification committee, the group planted new flora in February at the Kailua Post Office. but the plants have since been uprooted and stolen - three times, so far.
Several venues including Kailua Library, Assaggio’s, Baci Bistro, Kailua Optical, and Antiques and Treasures all have fallen victim to plant thieves,who also have uprooted plants from private homes in recent months. One business owner has even woven a chain through his plants to prevent thefts.
Rogers noted that the culprits seem to avoid prickly or thorny greenery, often opting to pull ti, dwarf lawai ferns and other flowers.
“I just can’t imagine what the motive is here to steal these plants,“she said.“It’s awful to think that our town might have to resort to constant security patrols over this.You hate to put in your time and money to beautify a place only to have someone steal what you worked so hard to produce. It’s very frustrating.”
Meridian East resident and LKOC beautification committee member Claudia Webster has made several inquiries around town herself, noting that her condominium is taking precautions.
“Baci Bistro even had a handmade redwood planter about 10 feet long with tons of dirt and plants in it, and someone came in the middle of the night and took it,” Webster said.“It was so heavy though, they must have had a few people or a forklift to move it.”
Staff from City Councilman Ikaika Anderson and state Rep. Cynthia Thielen’s offices will attend the meeting as will police officers, Kailua Neighborhood Board members, LKOC and others, all hoping to form strategies to stop further thefts. Kailua Chamber of Commerce president and Cinnamon’s owner Puna Nam also will attend.
“We really have to sit down and figure out what we as a community can do,“Webster said.“People feel hopeless - like they don’t have any control whatsoever, and it’s really sad because Kailua is such a beautiful town.”
For more information, call 262-6243.
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