It wasn’t cash or jewelry that was the focus of thieves in the East Bay – it was roses, dozens of them, dug up from a popular park in Oakland.
Neighbors now hope police can catch the suspects responsible for causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.
Nancy Friedman volunteers at the Morcom Rose Garden in Oakland, which is an 8-acre botanical garden that’s been a staple in the city since the 1930s.
“It’s very frustrating, particularly for the rosarian who lost a number of plants he’s been working on for years,” Friedman said.
Friedman said on Oct. 16, a volunteer noticed a large swath of bushes had been dug up overnight.
The garden has hidden surveillance cameras but did not catch any footage of the suspects stealing the shrubs.
The costs to replace the 50 stolen bushes will be around $5,000 dollars.
“Hopefully the next time someone tries to steal something they’ll be caught on camera,” Friedman said.
“I know OPD is following up on this, there is too much crime in Oakland, I think we all can acknowledge that,” said Zac Unger, an Oakland councilmember.
Unger represents district 1, where the garden is located. He’s angry vandals targeted what he calls a “treasure” of the city.
“To have people come in here and just rip up roses for abandon with theft is just a tragedy,” Unger said.
Friedman says they filed an online police report. Oakland police told NBC Bay Area they’re aware of the incident.
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