Thief steals potted plants from family home

Story and pics by SWNS

This is the bizarre moment a green-fingered thief was caught on CCTV pulling up outside a family home - before stealing several plants in pots.

Security footage released by police shows the man reversing onto the driveway of the property on Park Hill Road, Harborne, Birmingham at around 9pm on July 26.

He then rushes to pick up the decorative plant pots individually before loading three of them into the back of his silver Ford Focus.

The shameless crook then shuts the boot and drives away in the vehicle, which police said they believe is running on false plates.

West Midlands Police are investigating the unusual theft and have urged anyone who recognises the tracksuit-clad suspect to get in touch.

Posting the appeal on social media, the force wrote: "Do you recognise this man?

"We want to speak to him after three plant pots were stolen from a drive on Park Hill Road, Harborne shortly before 9pm on Sunday 26 July.

"He left in a Ford Focus which is believed to be on false plates.

"If you recognise him, or have any information, please contact us via live chat on our website or by calling 101. Please quote crime reference number 20BW/175837D/20."

Web users reacted with dismay to the strange crime after police shared the CCTV footage on Facebook.

Lesley Bruckshaw said: "What a sad person, pinching plants can you get any lower, or desperate."

Chris Berry wrote: "Bad times we live in when you can't even have plant pots without someone stealing them."

Claire Maling-Newman added: "Can't have any thing nice these days, pond life"

Gary Peters joked: "Looks like a job for special branch."