Had my trees stolen last weekend.

Mannythered

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They took my big Fukien, my small bougie, sea grape,Azalea, the bigger bougie, a small shohin pomegranate, a rusty fig, and tiger bark ficus and my laurel oak.
 

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Carol 83

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That's awful, I'm sorry. Is there some sort of black market bonsai ring in MN? Seems a bit bizarre, but I live in a small town and can't imagine someone doing that. If someone wanted to take my trees, it would be easy enough. Now when our big dog was still around, it would be a different story.
 
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How lame, and why so many?

Good luck tracking them down. If you have photos you should post them so they can be caught on selling websites.
 

Rivian

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Is that a public street in the background?
 

Ruddigger

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Saw your Reddit post, that sucks man. I know mine would be gone in a day if I had to keep em in my front yard.
 

just.wing.it

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Wow....facing the road huh....inviting them in essentially.
I assume you have limited places to put your trees.
Its like one of those yard signs that says Free Stuff!
People stealing from yards was a constant problem for us in my childhood....and the common excuse we'd hear in the rare event someone was caught was, "I thought it was free stuff, out for trash."......idiots.

Hopefully your security cam will help you out here.
Thieves are the worst.....chop their hands off.
 

QuantumSparky

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Damn I hope they get caught somehow, keep your eyes on marketplaces! Thieves don't steal bonsai to keep them.

Also you should try being a bit more cynical :p Two things you can count on in America: dumb people and yard theft. I'd never in a million years put my trees (although shitty at the moment) in any spot where passers by can see and take them. Visible goods lets thieves plan out their attack, check for cameras, parking spots, etc. Put them somewhere hidden so even if somebody comes onto your property, they'll have to make the split decision of leaving or stealing them with no plan...which usually ends up with them making a mistake and looking straight into a camera or something
 

Katie0317

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I'm so sorry that happened to you. It's heartbreaking!

What did the police say? Did they dust for fingerprints or take it seriously?

Check; Criagslist, Ebay, even Etsy. Try local nurseries, alert local bonsai clubs, pawn shops...Any bonsai 'dealers' within 100 miles by phone or email. I'd think they took them only to sell.

Wouldn't it have to be someone that knew you or knew a friend or neighbor that knew about your trees? Some lame family member of a friend or neighbor who'd had or heard a conversation about your trees and the conversation turned to them being valuable. For people who know nothing about bonsai might think of value if they needed money for drugs or anything else.

If you do spot them somewhere don't try to 'do' anything, alert the police first. Technically it belongs to whoever bought them until the police get involved. A friend had something valuable stolen and found it a pawn shop. He made the mistake of telling the pawn shop owner it belonged to him. Alert the police before saying anything.
 

Kadebe

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.....I'd never in a million years put my trees (although shitty at the moment) in any spot where passers by can see and take them. Visible goods lets thieves plan out their attack, check for cameras, parking spots, etc.
They don't have to be irl visible to attract thieves... posting pictures on facebook or any other social media is enough to know what trees you have 😔
 

RKatzin

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Very sorry to hear about your trees. I've had trees stolen and I know it's most heartbreaking.
 

Mannythered

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Yeah, it sucks. I think I’ve given Up on finding the trees, but as long as people are aware it helps me a bit. I just don’t want anyone else to go through this.
 

sorce

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I always wondered what came after @Mannythered , didn't know it was "shirt maker".

I'd lure em back in.

Sorce
 

Forsoothe!

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It's foolhardy to have portable stuff of high value in front of the house, on the street. I have two in front but they are large and heavy and not fine specimens, they are only remotely bonsai that look OK from the road, 50 feet away.
 

namnhi

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They took my big Fukien, my small bougie, sea grape,Azalea, the bigger bougie, a small shohin pomegranate, a rusty fig, and tiger bark ficus and my laurel oak
Looks to be 2 males and one female? They must have seen some ridiculous prices posted on ebay for bonsai trees. Front yard is people yard... back yard is mine!
My wife always complain on why I have so many potted trees but my front yard looks so bad. This is why.
 

HorseloverFat

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This is a specialized market,. With a smaller “crowd”... so thieves normally “don’t get what they want”.. and the trees just end up dying.

The chubbier one is calling the shots... buuuut seeing as he IS well-fed.. that says something about their lifestyle.... your not looking for a junkie..

That’s like a darker ford fusion bullshit or “partial hatchback” style car.. could be honda or toyota, too.. but that “style”

Sorry about your trees, friend.
 

hinmo24t

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damn huh

should put a few more out in expensive 'looking' pots (like gold or copper looking ones)
and have a mound of poison ivy in it, or booby trap


just kidding, there's amazing lawyers out there these days, defending dumbasses in every unfathomable way imaginable. absolute nightmare of liabilities out there. you could prob even be sued for having something that looks attractive or free to lure them in, where they could have got hurt or rear ended by parking to see if they were free/stealing them. just an example of how grimy and talented lawyers are
 
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