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Ecclesfield Library said that an unknown person wearing a hoodie and boots "dug up a conifer and took it home” on Saturday, October 31.

It comes a week after a rock was stolen from the garden and later thrown through the front door of the nearby Cerrones Restaurant, where thieves proceeded to steal alcohol and petty cash.

Although the person was captured on CCTV stealing the conifer, Ecclesfield Library said it was sadly unable to see their face on the footage.

A conifer plant has been stolen from outside Ecclesfield Library again

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In a post of Facebook, Ecclesfield Library said: “We are sorry to say that last night we had another theft from our library garden. This time someone, wearing a hoodie and boots, dug up a conifer and took it home with them.

“Ecclesfield Library is a non-profit charity, run by volunteers for the local community. We now have a lovely outside area, cared for by our volunteer gardener, and all the plants in our garden are paid for by donations.

“We would like to ask that whoever keeps taking things please stop. Our library, and its garden, are here for the benefit of our local community.”

Ecclesfield Library has a volunteer garden who creates displays however items have been previously stolen from them too

Cllr Vic Bowden, the Chair of Trustees of Friends of Ecclesfield Library, said the conifer plants have been stolen before as well as other small items on a display created by the volunteer gardener.

She said: “A few months ago there were repeated thefts of the conifers and we only had partial CCTV but we got some extra funding, so went from two cameras to four.

"It was passed on to the police and they had a quiet word with that person. Since then we’ve had minor things stolen, such as little plant pots.

"It’s annoying because there are so many volunteers and so much goodwill towards the library, the front looks absolutely superb with lots of variety of shrubs, flowers and everything, and we’ve had the front doors painted with a colourful picture of hands.”

Cllr Bowden added: “It’s a community resource, even people who don’t go into the library often or at all, can see the difference on the outside. There are CCTV cameras so eventually the person will be caught and identified.”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.

Plea after thieves target Sheffield library garden AGAIN

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.