Wagga family frustrated by 'senseless theft' of beloved roses

Jennafer Krause and her mother Judy Brooker woke to find nine pot plants were gone from their front porch.

"The roses were given to us by family members when we lost dad and we also don't like giving up flowers so there were Valentine's Day ones from the years as well," Mrs Krause said.

"We lived in Ashmont for eight years and had no issues and then we moved over here. We had them in these big pots and I walked out on Wednesday morning and there was only three left."

Mrs Krause said the thieves had taken nine pots of rose plants and they later found one down the road.

"They were right under my daughter's window and we heard nothing," she said. "To think something or someone was that close to the house."

Only a week earlier, the family had a sprinkling system stolen, but thought nothing of it.

"We know to others, they might not mean much, but we were a bit heartbroken and we had a cry," Mrs Krause said.

"They are the memories and when the flowers bloom you remember the stories."

Mrs Brooker said they had been living in the area in Ashmont where crime was common and to have items stolen after moving away was baffling.

"I had a Peter Brock rose that was from in Bathurst which my sister brought back for me," she said. "We have tried to find cuttings, but we have to wait a while. It is the darkest red and it was just starting to bloom and it is pretty devastating."

Mrs Krause said every rose had a story and they had tended to them for years.

"We had a positive response from people when we posted about it on social media," she said. "We haven't reported it the police because you don't think there is much point."

The mother-daughter duo said they hope whoever was responsible realises what they have done is wrong and return the beloved roses. 

"Stealing, no matter how small, is still wrong, and who gives them the right," Mrs Krause said. 

"Why do they need to do it and why do they think that it's OK," said Mrs Brooker. 

The pair said now they have put in security cameras, something they never thought they would have to do.