An Indian-Australian family in Melbourne’s west has been left shocked after five mature pine trees were uprooted and stolen from outside their home in a brazen early morning theft captured on CCTV.
The bizarre incident occurred about 6.30am in Deanside, Victoria, when a man driving a white car allegedly stopped outside the property, uprooted the trees within minutes and drove away.
Ravi Sharma shared CCTV footage of the incident, calling it a worrying reminder that even landscaping is no longer safe from theft.
“Around 6:30 this morning, a man in a white car uprooted five pine trees outside our house in a matter of minutes and fled,” Sharma said.
The entire incident was recorded on our CCTV camera, but unfortunately the vehicle’s registration number is not clearly visible.
“This isn’t just about tree theft, it’s a concern for the entire community. If trees can be stolen today, someone else’s property could be targeted tomorrow.”
The unusual theft has sparked widespread discussion online, with many residents expressing disbelief that mature trees had become targets for thieves.
One commenter urged Sharma to report the incident immediately and strengthen surveillance around the neighbourhood.
“You should immediately file a complaint against him and install CCTV cameras on the main road as well to keep an eye on people passing by. He must have come here before, because the way he committed the theft, it seems he already knew which trees to steal and how many.”
Another resident wrote:
“Who’d be low enough to nick someone’s trees? Shameless people.”
Others said the incident was not isolated.
“This has happened to us as well. Sadly, you can’t have a nice garden anymore unless it is behind a fence,” one local commented.
Another neighbour suggested checking nearby security cameras.
“See if a neighbour down the road with a better angle captured the dropkick’s number plate.”
The incident also prompted some humour, with one commenter joking:
“Now you can plant some curry trees. Nobody will pinch those.”
The CCTV footage shows the suspect acting swiftly before driving away, although the vehicle’s registration plate could not be clearly identified.
Residents are urging anyone in the area with CCTV or dashcam footage from the time of the incident to review their recordings in the hope of identifying the vehicle involved.
The unusual theft has raised concerns about the increasing boldness of property crime in suburban neighbourhoods, with locals calling for greater vigilance and cooperation to help prevent similar incidents.
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