My hanging basket was stolen...

Unless you have proof you owned the basket previously, I would advise against just taking it back. I would be giving them, a very early, and very loud knock on the door, don't ask them where they got the basket from, just demand they give it back. tell them if they don't you will contact the police.

 

Yep, the thief might have sold it to them

You can't trust what you buy off people in the street, bloke down here bought a "husky" puppy off someone in the pub, when he took it to the vets to get it's shots, turned out to be a Wolf

 

Well, I have proof it was (and is) mine (partly due to GardenersCorner, as I had photographed it - along with my others - since I planted it up as seedlings and posted updates here. It was also a vintage basket, with a number of unique distinguishing features, so there could be no doubt it was mine). I reported it to Police a week ago, but they never got in touch (guess it was only me who cared enough). I knocked a few times, there was never anyone in.
Then it started to die for lack of watering. So last night, I retrieved it, by the light of the 'Super Moon.' Vigilante justice.
It is currently at my Dad's house, for fear of repercussions (which is slightly ridiculous, given that it was 100% my property). I will leave it there until spring, and return it with anti-theft devices.
It was planted up with mostly flowering annuals, but I had also included hardy evergreens and ornamental grasses, so that it wouldn't be bare in winter. Part of the reason I wanted it back. It's a shame I daren't return it to the house where it belongs (yet), but at least I have it back now.

 

Sounds like the best course of action TT . Not a lot left of the basket season anyway. The anti theft device posted by WOO earlier in this post looks like an excellent idea

 

I've just solved the mystery.
The house is for sale. It went on the market on 8th August, hanging basket was stolen on 15th. So it was almost certainly stolen by the sellers (who are no longer in residence) to make the property more attractive to buyers as they had nothing to lose if it was seen and retrieved. Also explains why nobody was ever in, and why it wasn't watered.
And I feel entirely justified in retrieving it.

 

Someone I know used cable ties, thieves look for a quick job not using tools which take longer and running the risk of being disturbed.
Luckily I live in a culdisac and everyone knows each other, so no passing traffic or people and both me and my neighbour have hung ours for years. ( baskets that is not thieves although they do deserve to be strung up or in the stocks )

 

what a story, glad you got it back. I would have done the same thing, went and got it. but it is sad that you now fell you can't dress up your home for fear of stealing etc.

 

Trying to sell the house huh? So it wouldn't go down too well if someone posted a box of squid thru the letter box with a picture of a hanging basket and the word Karma written on it

 

Brilliant!
My other half thinks it was probably an estate agent who stole it. It was taken on a Saturday afternoon in broad daylight, and the only thing we know is that it was taken by someone with a car who parked right outside. An estate agent would probably be driving a company car, with nothing to lose if it was seen hanging only two streets away, so it was worth the risk. The house is unoccupied, and the theft would never be traced back to them.
Next year, I'm getting the anti-theft hangers! (And barbed wire!)

 

2 Boxes of squid then, one for the agent too, but leave that one in the greenhouse for a week before posting it just after they shut on Saturday night

They won't mess with you again

 

That's awful. Some people...

 

TT , so possibly the house owner had no clue what was going on , so no blame ?

 

Quite possible, appears to be vacant possession (which also explains why there was never anyone in).