A suspected plant thief was caught stealing from a neighbor's bush, and the alleged crime made it into the local papers in the victim's home country of Brazil.
The security video was shared by u/jhoujhou96 on Reddit's Mildly Furiating forum on May 28 and begins with his neighbor sneaking into a bougainvillea bush planted in the grass outside the victim's home.
Looking around to make sure no one was watching, the woman slowly bent over the plant and pulled it out of the ground. It took a few puffs to get it out, but as soon as the bush fell, the neighbors disappeared.
"Not the first time but finally caught on camera," jhoujhou96 wrote alongside the video.
A redditor grew bougainvillea in a pot for two years, but the plant outgrew the container. So, two weeks before the accident, they took him to the side of the driveway.
"Then he came this morning and it happened ... He could have asked for it and we wanted to cut his torso off!" - they said.
Other users were shocked by the audacity of the alleged plant thief, and the post garnered nearly 90,000 upvotes. However, the story continued to develop and was picked up by local news channel RICtv Maringá.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society of England, bougainvillea is a tropical plant that blooms in summer and fall. Bougainvillea flowers, known for their colorful blooms, can be pink, purple, yellow, apricot or white.
Bougainvillea vines are "evergreen climbers" and need support to grow. Although bougainvillea is difficult to establish, the company claims it is a hardy, low-maintenance addition to most gardens and greenhouses.
jhoujhou96 shared the news with a shocked Redditor, saying an elderly neighbor saw the robbery. He recognized the alleged thief, so jhoujhou96 and his wife went to the suspect's house and asked for their plants back.
"We have the video and there are witnesses who can prove that he took it," they said.
"She tried to push it away, saying it wasn't true, and even threatened to press charges against him."
jhoujhou96 then filed a police report and sent the video to a local news station. They broadcast the incident, the suspect's relatives recognized him from the video.
"They apologized and said they'd do anything to get it for us because it's completely against who they are," said the Redditor.
"They were known and respected by everyone around them for their work and kindness."
They returned the system the same day, unfortunately badly damaged.
"It was badly burned, I can only assume it was an attempt to destroy evidence," they said.
"Apparently the roots survived because it was still wet, so we transplanted it in the hope that it would grow back after pruning the burnt stems."
Reddit users had a lot to say about the flower theft incident. "I've never seen a plant I like and decided to steal it," commented Disastrous-Panda5530.
"I'm old now and even I know there are cameras everywhere. I don't understand why others don't have them," he said.
Nukethegreatlakes wrote: "Too bad he's learning."
"Public humiliation is the best!" Comments by LazaroFilm. "Not only can you get your flowers back, but this man has now been nicknamed the flower thief by his relatives."
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