Teenagers steeling my bean poles... :-(

[tiachica]

I noticed somebody been nicking my bean poles, bamboo sticks, from my tiny veg bed in my tiny garden. They were lying broken on the road yesterday.
I have now removed the two that were still there. I have one big pea that already attached itself to one of the sticks, so I broke it in half gently and eased it back to the ground. I don't want them stealing any more bamboo sticks and ripping out the pea. :-(

My OH has seen them run away just now, looking for more poles. I am now wondering if I will actually be able to harvest anything. Nevermind growing floor creeping peas and beans now. :-( I hope they don't steal my tomatoes or pull radishes or else.

I feel really deflated now.
Sorry, just had to get this off my chest.

[daisybee]

Really sorry to read this Tiachica. Don't let the b***ers get to you, I hope they move on and leave your garden alone so that you can put sticks back. It's really upsetting when you work hard at something only to have it trashed by thoughtless idiots.

[NOG]

That is the first time I have heard of that...

[amandaandherveg]

Hey Tiachica

Sorry to hear about the young uns - don't be disheartened. Are they youngsters? perhaps if you recognised them you could have a word with their folks. Failing that, I'm just down the road from you and I can come up and give them a telling off for you. x

Doh, just read the title - they're teenagers.

[allotmentlady]

Gawd en bennett, can they not leave anything alone????? Why not apply something like vaseline to the poles so when they grab them, they cannnot get a grip, plus they may wonder just what the hell is on the poles? NOT HARMFUL to animals but the 'teenagers' should get the message!

[Two_Sheds]

Why not apply something like vaseline to the poles !

That's actually a good idea ... or something more noxious like, dare I say, cat poo

[Nicos]

Why not have a word with your Homewatch co-ordinator ( if you have one) and ask for all the neighbours to be informed- and ask them to keep a look out to see if the kids are known to any of them.

Frustrating I know- but don't give up

[zazen999]

mine would be covered in a nice vaseline/chilli powder mix - to keep the greenfly at bay of course officer.....

[NOG]

Borrow a big dog...

[Hilary B]

How about getting some of that 'anti-climb' paint they put on wooden fences sometimes? It 'comes off' on clothes and skin and is a right B to wash off, so everyone knows who done it. (means handling with care when moving things legitimately, but might be worth it....)

[blackkitty]

Grow your peas and beans up something with lots of thorns, you'd have to careful picking them but the teenagers should leave them alone.