The theft of 12 rare trees valued at more than $3500 has shocked and angered staff at the National Arboretum.
It is feared the dragon trees stolen on Monday night will not survive the harsh Canberra winter unless they are properly cared for.
Security at the arboretum is now likely to be upgraded, with two thefts recorded in less than a year.
Arboretum chairman John Mackay said staff were inconsolable when they heard about the theft of the trees, which can live for hundreds of years and are classified as a threatened species.
''These are pretty much extinct in the wild,'' he said.
''We've been treating them like children since we planted them about three months ago, our staff are really attached to them.
''I don't think they will survive, if anybody tries to plant them anywhere in Canberra without a cover they certainly won't.
''The only thing these people have succeeded in doing is breaking our hearts.''
Mr Mackay also the chairman of ActewAGL said a staff member had discovered the theft about 7.15am yesterday. He said the trees, which are worth about $300 each, would be replaced immediately with stock left over.
It is believed the thieves gained entry to the arboretum on foot.
A Department of Land and Property Services ute left on the site was used to transport the thieves to the dragon tree lot, before they scaled a small electric fence designed to prevent entry by animals such as kangaroos to gain access to the trees.
It is believed the trees were then transported from the lot to the boundary of the arboretum and were then transferred from the stolen ute to a waiting vehicle.
Tree rustlers! Tree rustlers! I said tree russ...fuck it...
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Plant people are crazy. It is one of the great overwhelming passions that people are liable to contract. They'll go nutty for rare specimens. Orchids, Roses, Cactuses, native plants and way too many more to mention. This isn't a criticism I like their level of engagement.
One of the rules for developers in Calif. is 'never piss off the Calif. native plant society' because they are so organized, focussed and hence politically powerful they can block a development for a decade at a time.
However, there's no saying these are good horticulturists, that having stolen them they will keep the rare trees alive. That's one reason they are trying to put a stop to cactus poachers; the specimens they collect aren't often properly cared for and will die.
They have managed to rescue a number of the poor dragons. There has been a huge increase in the numbers of gandening thefts in Canberra over the past two weeks.
One wonders what the yoot of today are up too with their plant and shovel stealing.
