A BIZARRE video shows a criminal couple using a grandmother’s stolen car plates – to steal plant pots.
Police are now hunting the drive-by plant stealers who are seen in the clip being pursued by a vigilant neighbour.
The couple had earlier stolen registration plates to put on the black Vauxhall Corsa used in the horticultural heist in South Shields, Tyne and Wear.
CCTV shows the thieves carefully check out the front garden of the target house before grabbing potted plants and running back to the getaway vehicle.
But an alert neighbour prevents the green-fingered felons getting away with the entire collection of pots.
The neighbour chases after the couple, forcing the woman to throw her pot into the car before they speed off.
The clip was filmed in the Westoe Crown area of the town on Wednesday morning.
CCTV footage of the raid was shared on Facebook on Wednesday by Ryan Bengston in a bid to identify his neighbour’s plant pot pinchers.
He wrote: “Absolutely ridiculous, pinching plant pots in broad daylight, is it really worth it?”
Speaking yesterday, he said:“The lady who went outside is my auntie. She was in my property checking on the dogs when she noticed somebody run from my next door neighbours with the plant pot.
“She seen them outside and instantly reacted as she knows who my neighbours are.
“They’ve been going round the estate for days now, literally stealing plants.”
Ryan’s post has been inundated with comments from shocked viewers who have branded the couple “absolute scum”.
Clayton Fox wrote: “F****** plant pots, man. Middle class thievery at its finest.”
Amanda Owen Blacklock said: “Scruffy gits.”
Matthew David Doran wrote: “Pikey scumbags.”
Donna Proudlock said: “Taxpayers working hard to buy nice things for house and garden then absolute tramps who probably ain’t ever worked nicking it.
“Hope they get a beating. Wouldn’t be surprised they checking out more than just plants the way the chav looked in window. Scum.”
It emerged later that the registration plate on the vehicle was stolen from a grandmother’s car who lives on the same street, the day before the incident.
A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: “Police are appealing for information after a report of theft in South Tyneside.
“At around 10.05am, police received a report of plant pots being stolen from an address on Bents Park Road in South Shields.
“It is understood that at around 10am, a man and woman have parked their car next to the address and entered the front garden.
“They have then taken two plant pots and fled the scene in their car.
“While CCTV footage has caught the car leaving the scene, it has now been confirmed that the offenders were using a stolen registration plate to conceal their own.
“Inquiries are ongoing to locate those responsible and anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting log number 291 08/08/18.”
