Theives taking veggies – Reddit Post

So my family has a pretty large garden that is technically on city property (we got permission to use) and we have a neighbor a few doors down who also has a garden on city property like we do.

The last few years both of us have been having issues with theft, for some odd reason they seem to leave most of our stuff alone but our neighbors have had potatoes dug up, cabbages taken, etc. and it’s not just a bit here and there, these people are coming over with quads/ATVs and loading up. Most recently a friend driving past told them they seen a whole family walking back and forth between our gardens picking veggies. This was broad daylight as well. My neighbors have gone to the police with video evidence of people stealing, but were told they can’t do anything unless we know who the thieves are, even if the pictures of the people are crystal clear. They have a temporary fence up during gardening season but it hasn’t deterred the theives despite having a lock.

I’m not sure what else we could do besides keep watch and catch them in the act, it’s just so frustrating that we’re putting in so much hard work for these people to just take whatever they want. Does anyone have any other suggestions? My bf is insisting we try a motion sensor with lights and fake gun shooting noises but I’m hesitant, idk if it will deter them since they seem to be quite determined and might figure out it’s just a motion sensor, but mostly I’d be concerned about other neighbors calling the cops thinking there’s an actual shooting going on lol (I live in Canada, most people around here don’t really have guns except maybe for hunting, so hearing random gunshots would definitely cause alarm)

And of course since it is city property we are limited on what we can put up as far as fencing goes/sprinklers etc, basically nothing permanent and/or difficult to dismantle