to not think it's ok to steal my food!

[SpamMarie]

I have a lovely garden, in which I grow veg and maintain fruit trees. I spend a lot of time and effort on this. The garden is on my land, and none of the fruit trees overhang on to public land.

Today I go to the plum tree at the very bottom of the garden, which two days ago was brimming with plums. At least 80% have gone! The only ones left are damaged or not yet ripe. I am LIVID! How dare people come on to my land and help themselves to my food? I wouldn't walk into your kitchen and steal from your fridge!

What on earth can I do? Spend loads of £ on gates and locks? There's no way of accidentally wandering into it either, it's walled at the front and although there's no gate at the back, we live on a dead end, and it is very obviously a private garden.

I'm so annoyed at the thought of someone wandering around my garden and stealing my fruit. BAH!

I don't have a plum tree in my garden but I'm going to erect VelvetSnow's sign regardless.

"Get orf moi laand"!

:)

Seriously though OP I do sympathise, it would really annoy me if anyone felt it was acceptable to pinch my fruit.

It would annoy me too, a lot. It's not even just a case of someone sneakily taking one from an overhanging branch as they pass (which I guess you could overlook) but actually coming into your garden and stripping the whole lot?! .

I would put a gate in if you can, and a padlock on it. I know you shouldn't have to, but I would not be at all happy about people just wandering into my private garden. I feel more secure with a locked gate at the back anyway, in case of anyone with worse motives than fruit-stealing.

Using this method of psychology:
Neighbours put out old fridge with a notice saying, 'Free fridge to anyone who needs it and will take it away'. That got no takers.
Next notice: 'fridge for sale for £50'. The fridge disappeared.
JJxx

I have a bumper crop of apples this year, more than I can use or store. I have put them outside for anyone to take them. I would love some scrumpers.

for you. What a bloody cheek!

I'd go with the fake cctv, or a 'Caution - Huge Slavering Dog Loose' sign.
Have you not got a lockable gate? If not, then I'd erect a tall fence and gate; not just because of the pilfering (scrumping sounds too inoffensive to me - it's theft), but to discourage people from getting into your garden and therefore into your house.

I agree with kenobi the thought crossed my mind you.

CCTV in operation
Trespassers WILL be prosecuted.

and for you. It's horrible to think people have been on your property and even worse to know you've been theived.

plumscrumpery love it

sorry for your loss OP :(

I'm thinking of what might have been.. www.plumrecipes.net/