CF Stole my hedge

[12FreeRangeEggs]

We live in a naice part of London which thinks it’s the countryside but is actually just a green suburb. To the side and front of my property is our hedge. It’s a mix hedge; Holly, Ivy and other trees. Our Holly has been very good this autumn and we have lots of red berries. I make a door wreath for my front door each Christmas, and I usually forage from my own hedge to make my wreath. So far this year I haven’t gotten around to it but was hoping to make my wreath this weekend.

Well, I returned this afternoon and there was a lady stood on my driveway with a large blue IKEA bag in one hand and a pair of pruners in the other, helping herself to my holly.

I politely challenged her, but she didn’t seem to think that she was doing anything wrong helping herself to my Holly in my hedge. Infact when I protested that I was going to make my own wreath with my own Holly she told me she had a business making Christmas wreaths and usually only made 10 a season despite huge demand because she simply doesn’t have the time but was willing to make a professional wreath for me using my own Holly and charge me £85. I, less politely this time, declined her offer for a professional wreath and asked for my Holly back. She refused and accused me of being bitter and uncharitable.

She has clearly trimmed from the front of the hedge by standing in the road but was stood about 2 feet onto our drive to trim the best bush which is on the edge, when I pulled into our driveway.
Had a look at CCTV and she isn’t really covered well because it was dusk and the camera covers the main part of the driveway to protect against car theft rather than bush theft

Oooo great idea

This is what I would do, and then I would also post about what she’s done and shame her business all over social media.

Wtf. Cheeekkky bitch

Report it on Nextdoor and the local Faceache group

Totally find her and then out her on SM as a thieving bitch.

Send her an invoice.

Google reviews are your best friend if you can find her!

CF definitely, but don't be in a rage over some hedge clippings. Enjoy your weekend instead. Wreath making sounds great.

CF indeed!! We have a conifer hedge which a neighbour takes cuttings for at Christmas (with our permission) to make wreaths. In addition to the wreaths he sells he gives us a lovely wreath, made from our hedge, for a total of £0. £85 indeed!!!

Yeah she sounds awful. Can you enhance a still image from the cctv? Then post on your local neighbourhood socials asking who the brazen holly grinch is

Oh I’d be hunting her down and spending most of the night planning elaborate ways in which is take revenge.

And then when I’ve found her I’d do none of those things and probably ask her again for my holly back, or offer send her an invoice and I’d stew over leaving a well written and politely scathing review

Make you sure cut the rest of the holly off incase she tries to come back for more!

I'd be incandescent personally if I found someone literally stealing my holly!! How dare she? Common thief! What if she comes back to finish the job?

I'm sure wreath making is great if you don't have to steal the raw materials!!

@12FreeRangeEggs would any of you neighbours have caught her a a Ring camera or something?

If you post on Nextdoor/local FB, warn people to be careful when buying £85+ wreaths as they may be receiving stolen goods

Unfortunately I believe this. We used to rent on a posh estate and you got so many people coming round claiming the owner would let them pick foliage. Pruners and entitlement always present.

That’s right, it’s a police problem, naturally 🙄

As the thief was still at the scene a quick response from the police would have her apprehended and charged. If she still had the secateurs and the holly that is adequate proof that she intended to steal.
If catching a thief is not the police’s job I’m not sure what their job is.

I called the police when I saw my next door neighbour's porche being stolen from their drive. They came five days later.

As it was a performance car, they had managed to get away in that time.

Absolutely this cheeky mare

Why the default to name calling, picture taking, revenge seeking ire?

I personally wouldn't care if anyone took some of my hedge as long as they didn't leave a big gaping hole or something.

I have huge lavendar at each corner of my drive nearest the footpath, and a couple of bay bushes. People take some all the time. I take it as a compliment.

It grows again.

But I don't live in a naice part of London, we are actually friendly around here and speak to and know our neighbours.

Get a bloody life.

Good lord,the entitlement! We've got a beautiful large blue spruce in our garden, cuttings of which I weave into a Christmas wreath for my parents grave. I better hire security guards after reading this. And warn my brother whose rowan tree is laden with mistletoe each year. Are there more CFs around or is it that we just hear about them more?!

Follow her home and dig up her roses .

You'd be happy for people to cut your plants to use in their money making business? Really?

Don't be so bloody rude, it's uncalled for.

The OP has already said that she wants to make her own holly wreath. Why should she be left short because some cheeky bastard decided to help herself?

You might be zen with your "friendly" neighbours but not everyone would be happy with having their property stolen, and so brazenly!!