Gnome-gate: The beloved gnomes that were stolen and smashed in an alleyway
A dozen garden gnomes were stolen and smashed to pieces in a bizarre incident in Cheltenham during race week.
Bernard and Cath Bond were upset when they woke up to discover that a dozen of their cherished gnomes and ornaments had been stolen from their front garden in Unwin Road, The Reddings, overnight last Thursday.
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And the retired couple were reeling from the shock when a neighbour came to tell them that the gnomes and ornaments had been found smashed to pieces in a nearby alleyway.
Among the broken characters was a gnome which had belonged to Bernard's late brother Trevor, who died in 2007.
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Only its head was still intact, left lying among the shattered pieces of its former fellow garden dwellers.
"It looks like someone has taken them from the front garden and taken them down between some garages near the brook and smashed the lot," 67-year-old Bernard said.
Grandfather Bernard, a retired bus driver, said other neighbours had had garden ornaments stolen in the past couple of days, and he believes there could be someone with a grudge against gnomes targeting them in the area.
"How people can do something like this, I don't know. It's absolutely disgusting," he said.
"The oldest gnome was about 15 years old."
5 Comments
by tishwash
Monday, March 18 2013, 9:50PM
“Firstly I don't agree with anyone thieving or damaging things that aren't theirs however I must pick up on one point
"This kind of behavior has happened to me so many times now I don't bother reporting it. Last weekend somebody helped themselves to my roller and wheelbarrow, neither of which I can afford to replace."
Were they secured or left out unattended? It's not that I condone the thieves actions but I do think the world has changed and everyone needs to be more careful with their posessions.”
by geraint2010
Monday, March 18 2013, 2:10PM
“Race week was it? Probably leprechauns then!”
by Scatterpuss
Monday, March 18 2013, 1:59PM
“Ooh, rotten beggars. (For want of a better phrase...)
I hate how 'certain' people think they've a right to just help themselves. This kind of behaviour has happened to me so many times now I don't bother reporting it. Last weekend somebody helped themselves to my roller and wheelbarrow, neither of which I can afford to replace. I tend a communal garden so when they come along, smash things or help themselves they're stealing from the whole neighbourhood. Swines.
Don't let them stop you from enjoying your hobby, Mr & Mrs B. I know from experience how upsetting it is when they destroy things of sentimental value. At the end of the day tho', it's just material goods. In the bigger picture you're brightening the place up, they're very sad to want to wreck your good work, but rather be you than them! :)”
by zalapompadoo
Monday, March 18 2013, 9:35AM
“just plain mindless spite, it does not matter what it is they have to destroy it i had some solar lights in my front garden and they were taken and smashed up, if they were stolen and put in a garden then i would be cross however these scum have to smash it up i wouls like to do it to them”
by Matt1006
Monday, March 18 2013, 8:44AM
“Sadly another example of the scumbags that exist out there. This is sheer vandalism (plus theft). If ever identified, don't let them make excuses about being drunk, or having done it as a bet etc. Throw the book at the s0ds.
"there could be someone with a grudge against gnomes targeting them in the area" - if that does turn out to be the case (I doubt it, personally), then perhaps in addition to whatever a court hands out to them, a meeting with an appropriated-trained counsellor might also be useful.”