Thieves have struck Oakland's Morcom Rose Garden, leaving a void where dozens of carefully nurtured roses once bloomed. The garden, a beloved 8-acre botanical sanctuary since the 1930s, was targeted in a heist where 51 rose bushes were uprooted and stolen, causing significant distress and leaving behind thousands of dollars in damages. Volunteer Nancy Friedman, with years invested in the care of these flowers, described the scene to NBC Bay Area as "very frustrating," particularly for the rosarian who lost plants he had been nurturing for years.
According to the Oaklandside, the theft occurred on the night of October 16, and garden workers discovered the roots had been yanked out of the bushes, a method likely to ensure their death. This act of vandalism isn't an isolated incident at Morcom Rose Garden; however, it represents a poignant strike against the local community's effort to preserve the garden's beauty. The Friends of the Morcom Rose Garden, a group that, along with city parks staff, has worked painstakingly to maintain and curate the collection meticulously, now calls on the public to be vigilant and report any instances of theft or damage they witness.
Oakland City Councilmember Zac Unger expressed his concern over the incident, calling the rose garden a "treasure" of the city and lamenting the tragedy of its recent victimization. Despite the combined efforts of volunteers and surveillance technology, the garden's hidden cameras failed to capture any footage of the crime in progress. The garden's advocates have since hoped to strengthen security measures, as Friedman mentioned their wish for the next theft attempt to be caught on camera, as per NBC Bay Area.
Replacing the stolen shrubs incurs a cost of around $5,000, a sum that underscores not only the monetary value but also the investment of care. While the volunteers have filed a police report and the Oakland Police Department is aware of the theft, the Friends of the Morcom Rose Garden have been attempting to raise money for supplies.
