Thieves break into Farmer Gow's activity farm at Fernham

9:07am Monday 1st December 2008

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Thieves failed to steal Christmas trees from a popular activity farm near Faringdon last week, but made off with decorations and toys worth £200, and £100 in cash.

They broke into Farmer Gow’s, in Longcot Road, Fernham, by forcing open French doors at the farm shop some time between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

Owner Anne Gow believed they were trying to gain access to her stock of 480 trees, which arrived on the Tuesday and were stored in a nearby barn.

However, she believed, tight security prevented the thieves completing their mission.

Mrs Gow warned shoppers not to buy Christmas trees off the back of a lorry.

The mother-of-two said: “Unscrupulous individuals were intent on stealing the farm’s Christmas stock of high quality Oxfordshire-grown trees.

“They were frustrated by the farm’s security methods, but, nonetheless, took Christmas decorations and toys, and caused considerable damage to the premises.

“Trees are very valuable this time of year, and with the credit crunch, money is tight. Every year, it’s a real problem for Christmas tree retailers and they have to have tighter and tighter security.”

She added: “You basically get what you pay for — and if you buy a cheap tree this year, off the side of the road or from an unusual source, it is likely that your Christmas purchase will contribute to someone’s misery as well as the thief’s Christmas pocket.

“The message is, if people want a proper tree, buy it from a proper retailer, don’t buy it off the back of a lorry, and if you can’t afford one, buy a shorter one.”

Anyone with any information can contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.