$10,000 trees go in nursery raids

A NARRE Warren North nursery is reeling after trees valued at $10,000 were stolen in two separate raids recently.
Thieves cut wire fencing to gain access to Warner’s Nurseries on Belgrave-Hallam Road and stole about 40 magnolia trees.
The first theft occurred on 23 June with thieves returning sometime between 6pm on 27 July and 8am the following day for the second raid.
Nursery owner Michael Warner said the foliage in the Little Gem species of plant is highly sought after in the florist industry. He said the thieves hadn’t bothered to take the whole plant, instead snapping each tree off at the base.
“They did two lots this week. The first time they snapped them off with their hands and then the second time they have used clippers,” Mr Warner said.
Mr Warner, who sells plants to garden centres and the landscape industry, said he had been operating out of Narre Warren North for the last 10 years.
“The plants would have probably been about five years old and about 1.6 (metres) high. It probably would have only taken them 15 minutes to do it,” he said.
Mr Warner said the magnolia foliage had become so valuable that thieves were resorting to stealing from domestic properties.
“We have heard of people losing their magnolias from their front yards,” he said.
However, Mr Warner has issued a stern warning to any future would-be-thieves that their task won’t be so easy next time.
“We just got a guard dog. A big 65 kilogram dog that will be in the grounds after hours.”
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Narre Warren Police on 9705 3114.