Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery, with locations in Vernon and 麻豆精选, is frustrated after its carefully maintained flower gardens were targeted by two plant thiefs.
The most recent incident, which unfolded at the distillery's Vernon location in the early hours of June 18, was caught by the site's security cameras.
Multiple clips of the footage were sent to Black Press. The footage has also been posted to the
The videos show a woman drinking from a Tim Hortons cup walk up to the garden. She then uproots multiple plants from various locations in the garden.
"These weren鈥檛 just any planters鈥攖hey鈥檙e lovingly maintained by our 80-year-old mother, who takes great pride in creating a welcoming space for locals and visitors," said Jeremie Dyck, from Okanagan Spirits.
"While the monetary loss may seem minor, the emotional toll is significant."
Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is a family-owned business and said that in light of the recent increase in vandalism and theft in Vernon, this act of garden destruction is discouraging.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 the first time,鈥� said Dyck. 鈥淏ut this time, the Plant Bandit was seen shopping through our planters like they were strolling a garden centre. When it affects Mom, it鈥檚 personal.鈥�
Dyck's 80-year-old mother, who is also the distillery's head gardener, has said that she is not giving up on her flowers.
In fact, the dedicated gardener is offering a $100 Okanagan Spirits gift certificate to anyone with information that leads to the identification of the individual who uprooted the plants.
The flowers have since been replanted by the family's matriarch.
