topic Re: Stolen cantaloupes in Community Chat

Stolen cantaloupes

Carmie — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 17:58:20 GMT

My daughter and Granddaughter were here last evening. They water my plants while I am away. This year, I planted cantaloupes. I got six plants for free in July.

Because they were planted late in the season, we haven't had any to harvest yet, but last night we counted 10 that are quite large and are almost ready. My granddaughter is very excited to pick them. There are many baseball and smaller size ones that will take a while.

I was just outside watering and cutting back the flowers on my basil and chives and removing a few weeds when a boy (maybe about 10 years old ) on a bicycle stopped at the curb and yelled. " Your cantaloupes taste terrible."

I asked how he knew. He said he tasted one and his mother had to throw away the rest of them.

I counted my cantaloupes and there were only seven large ones there. That means either he or someone in his family stole three of them.

My small garden is not that close to the street. That means someone had to walk in and across my yard and take cantaloupes late last evening. I can't believe the nerve of some people.

I have strong portable plastic fencing that's 4 ft tall. I guess I need to install it today. It's a pain to have to remove a section every time I need to get into the garden, but at least I won't have people taking produce and throwing it away.

They could have at least waited until the fruit was ripe. Scheech.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

Bri369 — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:01:02 GMT

That's pretty nervey.

They had to know you had contaloupes back there. They must have been snooping around in your yard. That would really upset me.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

deepwaterdotter — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:08:49 GMT

Isn't someone guilty of trespassing and theft on your property?

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

cherry — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:06:33 GMT

What a horrible way to raise a child. I shudder to imagine what he will get up to ,as he grows, with such a dreadful excuse for a mother

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

Witchy Woman — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:11:07 GMT

@Carmie

I think the top of my head would have blown off.

If you know his mother, or family, would you feel comfortable talking to them about this?

I'm not sure I would report them to the police, but good heavens, just walking into your yard and stealing is a lot of brass.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

Mj12 — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:13:20 GMT

That is terrible (and obnoxious). I would recommend Blink cameras. We have the outside of our home/driveway and backyard covered.

ETA - I don't think I would report them to the police (as much as I might want to).

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

2blonde — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:13:45 GMT

@Carmie Your post made my jaw drop. It slays me that they even had the nerve to go into your yard and steal them, but to then complain to you that they tasted bad???? I know there are too many people today who think the world owes them a living, but that is way over the top. What a great lesson that mother has taught her child. I would feel so violated if I were you.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

golding76 — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:18:08 GMT

I have neighbors who had to be told to please not take my beautiful dahlia blooms. They ended up stealing my plants.

Unbelievable!

I find such base behavior deplorable and heartbreaking.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

kitcat51 — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:27:21 GMT

The boy might have taken them & didn't tell his mom...I'd find out & make it clear whatever happened better not happen again.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

Imaoldhippie — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:31:04 GMT

Unbelievable! I would do as someone else suggested and install security camera's and let it be known arount the neighborhood that you have been experiencing theft and trespassing, then when you get somone on camera you are going to file charges. That might stop the low lifes.

Evidently they or the kid has been trespassing in your yard either at night or when you are not home. That would upset me more than the theft.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

jellyBEAN — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:31:50 GMT

Do you have flowers growing in the garden as well? or is it just a fruit n veggie garden? At around 10 yrs. old kids do go out xploring in their neighborhoods. But for him to return to the scene of the crime is what I find most bizarre. If he was on a bike he's nearby, I think I would have watched where he rode off to.

I remember me and my best friend (as young kids - maybe around that age) noticed flowers growing in the backyard of a neighbor that lived several houses away. Me and my friend ventured back there and each picked some flowers. Well the woman saw us and came out of her house and proceeded to confront us and boy did we take off. We RAN home.

This woman then came to our street and proceeded to knock on several doors enquiring about 2 young girls who picked her flowers. We stayed mum (no pun intended). But I think I learned my lesson there. Scared us so.

So I don't actually fault the kid as he may not have been the one to pick them, sounds more like the mother may have noticed the fruit growing. Now if the mother told her son to pick them - thats another story. Thats definitely wrong. But kids will be kids.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

ILTH — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:34:50 GMT

I can't even process this if the parent was involved.

Trespassing.

Robbery.

No moral compass.

Some people are trash.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

Bri369 — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:35:49 GMT

Do you know the mom or see her in the neighborhood? I would consider saying something to her and her son.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

happycat — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:38:36 GMT

That's a sorry excuse of a mother. And what a brat of a kid!

Would it do any good to contact authorities?

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

January121 — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:48:55 GMT

I would be so angry if someone did this to me & I definately would take some action .... I would go to the police station & file a report so it’s on record & if you know the name of the “wonderful child” that stole them by trespassing on your property I would include it in the report .... 😱

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

Drythe — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 18:56:05 GMT

Wildlife Camera!

We get great photos of all the creatures who visit.

His Mom would no doubt love to see her darlin’ boy’s picking in your yard.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

Spacrazy — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 19:17:31 GMT

@Carmie: I hate hearing what happened to your garden. Your story sounds exactly like one I could write. I love to garden but have absolutely no need to since there’s only me now. My garden is small now but makes my heart feel bigger every year as it fills with the wonderful memories I continue to grow with my daughter and my grandchildren. All the trouble in our lives and the world vanish in the garden and all our secrets remain there.

As much as we love our time in the dirt nothing prepares us (especially the children) for harvest time. There is no way to describe the feeling of reaching through those leaves finding the wondrous treasure we have waited so patiently to enjoy!

i don’t know what I would do if someone took this joy from me!?!?

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

Pqfan — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 19:20:22 GMT

I would have said oh no you ate those!I just found out those are poison! 🤣

On a serious note I am sorry you have to deal with this family of thieves!🙁

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

Mindy D — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 19:25:10 GMT

I can only imagine how badly this kid behaves in class.

Re: Stolen cantaloupes

Havarti — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 19:26:48 GMT

A child just does not show up at home with 3 cantaloupes and not have the mom ask some questions. He had to get them from somewhere and she must have wondered what the source might be (unless she knew & just doesn't care). Did he steal them from a store? Did he steal them from a neighbor? Did someone give them to him - then mom needs to know who & thank them. No matter what - mom had to know something was up. I am sorry this happened to you. This is my first year successfully growing tomatoes (only 4 plants) and someone stole some from me. I was so surprised and disappointed. I feel your sadness that people would do this to each other.