Callous thieves steal plants from Dudley memorial garden
Parishioners have been left distraught after plants in their church memorial garden, donated by grieving relatives in memory of loved ones, were stolen by thieves.
The plants, including three weeping willow saplings donated last month by the outgoing vicar, have been dug up from the garden at St Augustine's Church in Holly Hall, Dudley.
Rosemarie Plaister is a member of the clergy, and is one of those who has added to the garden with an Easter Rose donated for her daughter.
She said: "How could people take things like that?
"They must be low, so desperate for money if they are selling them, or putting them in their own garden.
"We are not putting any more in now and there are holes where the plants were. We don't feel we can put more in if people are going to pinch them.
"It's heartbreaking."
The former vicar at the church, Rev Christine Browne, left in the middle of April for a post in Wales, leaving the church's adjoining vicarage empty.
Before she left, she donated three weeping willows for the garden.
Mrs Plaister believes that, although the vicarage is being checked every day by members of the clergy, the thieves have realised it is empty.
Around three or four weeks ago the first plants disappeared from the church on Hall Church Road - two of the weeping willows - and the week after the third willow was taken.
And then last week a yucca plant was dug up.
Mrs Plaister added: "They left a mess on the first occasion, we found all the soil on the step and it wasn't until we investigated that we saw the bushes were gone."
If anyone has any information about the thieves, or where the plants were taken, they should call Dudley Police on 101.
The church is holding a 'retro' sale of antique items on June 7, between 10am and 2pm.
Sellers' tables, for the event inside the church, are available for £10 from Maggie Squires on 01384 829107.
Entry costs 50p, and refreshments including bacon and egg sandwiches and tea and coffee will be available on the day.
