GREEN fingered thieves have been targeting garden centres in the district over the last few weeks.

Police are appealing for information and witnesses after the incidents which has seen PJ Notcutts Garden Centre on Hatfield Road and Buston Garden Centre on the A405 fall victim to theft.

A number of camping items that were stored in a container, including tents and awnings, was taken from Notcutts between 6pm on Wednesday July 13 and 6am on Thursday July 14.

Keith Davis from the crime service team said: “I would like to appeal to anyone who heard or saw any suspicious activity around the time to come forward.

“The stolen items can be quite large and difficult to move without being seen, so I am asking people to cast their minds back to see if they remember anything.”

Two incidents at Burston Garden Centre saw a number of plants taken. The first theft occurred between 3.30pm on Friday July 22 and 7am on Monday July 25 when one or more offenders forced entry via a fence and took a number of rose trees.

The second theft happened between 10pm on Tuesday July 12 and 7am on Wednesday July 13 at the same place. It is thought one or more offenders accessed the garden centre via a bridal way on How Wood, close to the junction of Spooners Drive. They forced their way through a fence and took a mixture of plants as well as a wheel barrow.

PC Claire Wright said: “These offenders would have been very conspicuous, loading roses and other plants into a vehicle and I would like to appeal to anyone in the area who has seen any suspicious activity around the time of the incidents.”

While these two incidents are being linked, the thefts from Burston are not being connected to the theft at Notcutts.

Anyone with any information regarding either incident can contact the police on their non-emergency number 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.