Theft at GROW costs hundreds of pounds of Mother's Day income

Tuesday 29 March 2022

GROW has revealed that the honesty box stolen recently from its temporary premises in Oatlands Lane contained money left by customers who had made purchases over the whole of the Mother's Day weekend.

The charity - this year's charity partner of Express' sister title, Connect - expects to have lost several hundred pounds in the theft, which this morning it called "mindless" and "hurtful".

Police have issued an appeal for witnesses to the theft of cash from a money box. They say the theft happened between 15:00 on Saturday and 08:00 yesterday, Monday.

When Office Manager Carol Brehaut checked the honesty box on yesterday morning, she found only one five pence piece in the bottom. 

"Over a busy weekend, when many customers are here to buy bedding and perennial plants for their gardens, we would expect to take several hundred pounds in cash," said Mrs Brehaut.

"The Mother's Day gifts have been particularly popular and would have added significantly to the income. This mindless theft is very disappointing for all of us and especially the Crew who enjoyed helping to prepare the gifts.

"I just hope that whoever is responsible gets to understand just how hurtful their actions have been to all the Crew who work hard here to grow plants and produce which help to cover the cost of our overheads."

Pictured: Some of the Crew at GROW, who had worked hard to prepare plants and pots for sale on Mother's Day weekend. 

GROW said that its Crew - as attendees are known - have spent the past couple of weeks "potting up planted displays in colourful pots to appeal to people wanting to give their mothers something special for Mother's Day...these were for sale alongside plants, bird boxes and bug boxes in the greenhouse".

The honesty box is a milk churn painted by Crew member Juliette Martel with images of spring flowers growing from the base. It has been secured to a bench and fitted with a padlock. But the thief or thieves forced the lock and removed the cash inside.

"We have now ordered close circuit cameras to install on site to deter such mindless acts in the future," said Mrs Brehaut.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Police on landline 222 222, quoting reference number OC2200002008, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

GROW has moved its operation to Avondale Vinery in Oatlands Lane until spring 2023, when it expects to move into brand new facilities which are currently under construction at its traditional home in Les Petits Quartiers. 

GROW is this year's charity partner of Express' sister publication, Connect.

Pictured (top): Ben Tardif, one of the GROW Crew, and Carol Brehaut, Office Manager, with the milk churn 'honesty box' from which probably hundreds of pounds were stolen which were meant to support GROW's work with disabled islanders.