Anger as thieves steal hanging baskets from Doncaster town centre

A Doncaster businessman has hit out at thieves who have stolen hanging baskets from the town centre
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A businessman has condemned a spate of thefts of hanging baskets from Doncaster town centre at Waterdale and Priory Walk.

Stuart Biltcliffe, owner of Hanging Gardens, who spent many hours preparing and maintaining expensive floral fixtures said the thefts were “upsetting and depressing”.

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Stuart, who supplies Lazarus properties with the hanging baskets and troughs, believes the thefts are planned.

Some of the hanging baskets similar to the ones stolen in Doncaster town centre.Some of the hanging baskets similar to the ones stolen in Doncaster town centre.
Some of the hanging baskets similar to the ones stolen in Doncaster town centre.

He said: “Somebody somewhere is organising the theft of these things and they are a hell of a weight and size. It started in Waterdale a week last Friday where they pinched four and then Priory Walk where they nicked another three. The planters have a mixture of trailing plants geraniums verbena, begonias and busy lizzies . They cost a fortune.

Stuart said: “They are enormous so whoever has been taking them they take some doing. Some of them weigh 20 kg – how they are lifting them off I don’t know.

“We do a service each year putting the plants in and watering them – it takes two of us to lift them.”

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Mr Biltcliffe said the planters were high up and needed a ladder to reach them and were cable tied.

A hanging basket similar to the ones stolen in Doncaster.A hanging basket similar to the ones stolen in Doncaster.
A hanging basket similar to the ones stolen in Doncaster.

He added: “Lazarus are paying me a lot of money each year, thousands of pounds to make it more presentable for the public and for businesses as well to make it more attractive.

"If anyone has any CCTV of anything happening please tell the police.”

South Yorkshire Police have been contacted by the Free Press.