I passed on a few of these topics to Uncle K. Cruelty in bonsai, is something all have to reason out. Normally we ask if the person cuts the lawn or trims hedges, much more mass being removed there than on 200 or 300 trees.
I know K's limit is ripping bark off of trees or deliberately trying to induce any damage to the trunk. In the 80's a chemical was offered that irritated the tree's bark, and forced the tree to grow. Problem was it left the bark coarse, even if the tree normally had a mature smooth bark.
As to where the trees stay. Backyard, behind a bamboo fence. Years ago the orchid society popularised flowers to the point that theft became rampant. The next door neighbour had a collection of very common orchids, pilfered by - Ninja.
Folk inside the community caught him and had his legs broken [ read shattered]. He couldn't climb after that, but still kept on stealing, until elsewhere, he was shot and killed.
So when the Bonsai society, did the same for Bonsai, everything moved from the front yard to the back and Uncle K, left the world of Bonsai - told everyone that he had given up on Bonsai.
Today, the dogs guard the collection and only old friends drop by to have tea and enjoy the trees.
Fancy stuff like cameras and so on, will do nothing to stop theft here, and if they really want to get in, they will either bring a female dog in heat, or poison the dogs.
Guess what, K only has female dogs, and they are more protective of owners than males. Additionally one white for day and 2 black dogs for night.
He also has two killer cats, that will go for eyes and throats. Saw the idea in Lobsang Rampa and the Temple cats.
Fortunately, this is an extremely low crime zone, and so far no incidents.
Good Day
Anthony
* The neighbours here have yardmen and gardeners, no real interest in gardening or plants.
Hence the very common orchids - something to chat about - hah hah - nose in air -chuckle.