Twist wrench and grab
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Cottage tales | 44 comments
Photo: Home grown flowers
Considering that the gateside stand has been up and running for nearly nine months now, thefts from the stand have been low.
When they do happen it’s a shock. I spot that we have sold something and my heart lifts but when I open the cash box it is empty. Before the school holidays began some teenage boys on bikes started nicking stuff. As profits are quite low, this was depressing. But I scotched their game by working in the front garden around that time that they passed each day. They knew that I knew. After a while they just stared ahead and pedalled slowly by.
Sometimes people leave 2p for a pot of jam. The jar alone costs us 30p. Occasionally someone steals flowers to present to a loved one. I wonder what they would think if they knew that it was stolen?
Sales on the gateside stand have been really slow this month. But yesterday we had a good day and sold 9 jars of marmalade and chutney. Usually I bring the stand in at seven o’clock but as it was such a glorious and sunny evening I decided to leave it out just a bit longer. Perhaps I could tempt another passer by?
And I did. Someone nicked the cash box and all the takings.
At first I couldn’t work out how they had taken it. The bicycle lock that slips through the handle was still locked. Then I spotted the handle – it had been wrenched off the cash box and left neatly on the top of the stand.
Some village newcomers are suspected of stealing stuff from the village shop and a whole day’s batch of bread and cakes were recently stolen from outside the shop. It’s delivered in the early hours of the morning so no one saw the culprits. In a small old fashioned community it’s a shock when trust is broken – I should have been more vigilant.
This morning I ordered a much sturdier cash box from Amazon. I was so angry that it was tempting to order a stun gun too. The handle of the new box is bolted to the lid. I’ll clear the cash box regularly from now on. I’m not going to be beaten by these thugs.
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Hi Fiona,
Not much of a tecchie, but is there anyway you can install a webcam, cheap CCTV to ‘spy’ on your stall. I know it is sad to have to stoop to such Big Brother measures. At the very least warning signs that there is some sort of surveillance in operation. Maybe that would deter these oppotunists.
I am afraid i have to disagree with those on here who say there are more good people than bad. Maybe it used to be the minority who lived by these type of gutter morals but now they are obviously infecting all parts of the country not just the bigger towns. I’m sorry about whats happened to you not because of the cash, as I’m sure you’ll agree fiona the money is nothing in comparision to the disturbing awareness that the sacred little pocket of england you have made home is no longer untouched by this type of scum. If it was me I’d be wiring the tin up to the mains and sitting waiting with a 12 bore.
That is a really worrying thought. It would mean it was one of Fiona’s neighbours. A one-off, opportunist theft is nasty enough (and I can quite see the temptation of the stun gun!) but to think it was someone local ….
I have been reading your website with great interest, as together with a friend I am involved in a similar venture. We are growing and selling cut flowers at a market but we did do a gateside stall to begin with.
It is very saddening to read of the theft of your honesty box and I do hope there is no repeat episode. We had no box but used a saucer and throughout the day removed any cash left in it, on the principle that it was less rewarding for someone to steal. Also, it was fairly immediately obvious if underpaying was happening.
Good luck with your future sales, your bouquets are really lovely…..and maybe leave a note to the thief in your new cash box?
The honest and trusting side of me says I hope it was someone who desperately needed the money to live. The cynical side of me says it is way more likely it was a random and deliberate theft. Karma. What goes around comes around. Do you think they had been watching and knew there was a decent amount of money in the box that day?
How depressing. I’m so sorry.
What have we come to?
If they’ve got away with it once, they’ll be back.
Hi Fiona
Keep your chin up unfortunately their are folk with no scruples, no respect and who need a good kick up the bum! My OH has been doing a new build across the road from our property and we have had to watch the site like hawks, if things were not hidden/nailed down they walked…….. hope you keep your gate sales going
best wishes
Jane
At first I wondered if they were victims of the recession and are desperate for cash, but then I wondered how they would feel if they knew they were stealing from a person whose illness doesn’t allow her to take a regular job….
Whether or not you believe in Karma, it does exist. I only hope they lesson isn’t lost on them. So sorry for this to happen to you.
That sort of abuse of trust makes me angry and sad.
Sorry to hear about the thefts. I do pray that it all gets sorted, may they develop a conscience if they don’t have one now.