Town Of Secaucus: Call Police If Vegetables Are Stolen From Your Community Garden Plot

SECAUCUS, NJ — The Secaucus Environmental Department said it is aware someone — or multiple people — have been stealing vegetables from community garden plots in town.

On Monday, the Environmental Department urges gardeners to report anything unusual to the Secaucus Police Department.

This comes after reports this August that people stole vegetables from multiple different garden patches at the Imagine Garden off Meadowlands Parkway. Veggie thefts were reported at Fountain Park on Humboldt Street, too.

"The Secaucus Environmental Department is aware of the recent events at the Imagine Garden and we deeply empathize with our community gardeners. The time and care they put into their plots are truly a gift to our town," said Secaucus Environmental Director Kimberly McCleary on Monday, Aug. 25. "We have placed signage throughout each of our gardens to clearly state that each plot is owned and not to pick from plots that are not your own. Unfortunately, vegetable theft is a challenge faced by community gardens across the state, and we are aware that our gardens are not immune. It is a recurring issue. We encourage anyone who has experienced theft to report the incident to the Secaucus Police Department."

"We understand that visitors to our gardens may see the term 'community garden' and think it's for everyone," she continued. "To clarify, Secaucus uses a plot (or allotment) garden model, where each individual gardener tends to their own designated plot. While it's a shared community space, each plot is individually owned and cared for. This is different from other types of community gardens that may be open for public harvesting. On a positive note, many of our dedicated gardeners regularly donate their extra produce to the local food bank in town. This act of generosity is a wonderful example of the community spirit that our gardens foster."

Someone Is Stealing Vegetables From 2 Secaucus Community Gardens (Friday)