THE Old Church on the Hill is accustomed to people coming to sample the wares from its community vegetable garden, but several visitors earlier this week left volunteers confounded.
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As garden manager Rose Vincent walked past at 7am on Tuesday, she spotted a woman among the beetroots and silverbeet working away.
Ms Vincent said a kind “hello”, then walked back 20 minutes later to find the woman was filling two large plastic containers with the vegetables – cabbages, lettuce, spinach and more.
The woman claimed she was from Work for the Dole, but there was only one problem – the Old Church on the Hill is not involved in the program.
A second person was also inside the church hall at the time, after damaging a door to gain entry. The plastic containers had been stolen from inside the building.
The two fled the scene after Ms Vincent had approached, leaving a trail of lettuce leaves along Russell Street as they carried the containers of vegetables.
The vegetables had been crudely removed from the ground, while others that had not yet properly matured were left strewn across the garden.
Ms Vincent said had she not interrupted the pair, further damage could have been to the community garden.
“It was lucky we were able to interrupt them, I’d hate to know what would have happened if we hadn’t of spotted them,” she said.
The garden was established at the Old Church on the Hill in Quarry Hill three years ago, and has served as a valuable community space ever since.
Residents are invited to come and sample the wares.
Ms Vincent said the early morning visitors on Tuesday were clearly there for unwelcome reasons.
“I don’t think you would take 12 to 15 beetroots unless you were thinking of selling them,” she said.
“Visitors are always encouraged to come and take some vegetables, but just take enough for what they need for a meal – and respect the space.”
Since the theft, the community has rallied around the community garden. A tray of seedlings was left at the front door, and volunteers repaired the broken door within hours.
Police described the offender as short, thin, in her mid-20s, wearing a fluffy hat with ear flaps and a large jacket.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.