Oakland’s Morcom Rose Garden theft leaves thousand of dollars in damages

It wasn't cash or jewelry that was the focus of thieves in the East Bay - it was roses, dozens of them, dug up from a popular park in Oakland.

Neighbors now hope police can catch the suspects responsible for causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.

Nancy Friedman volunteers at the Morcom Rose Garden in Oakland, which is an 8-acre botanical garden that’s been a staple in the city since the 1930s.

“It’s very frustrating, particularly for the rosarian who lost a number of plants he’s been working on for years,” Friedman said.

Friedman said on Oct. 16, a volunteer noticed a large swath of bushes had been dug up overnight.

The garden has hidden surveillance cameras but did not catch any footage of the suspects stealing the shrubs.

The costs to replace the 50 stolen bushes will be ar