Students from Batemans Bay Public School woke up to find all the veggies they had planted missing from their school garden on Monday morning, May 27.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The school's principal Kel Smerdon said he saw CCTV footage of alleged thieves harvesting the vegetables from the school's meshed garden beds at about 4.30am.
He said students had planted lettuce and potatoes and looked after them on a regular basis.
"We have CCTV footage at the rear of the school and there was quite a lengthy time they harvested the stuff," Mr Smerdon said.
"They were clearly looking to use the produce."
He said the produce was not of significant market value and they were not seen to have done any other damage.
"The only issue was they forced entry into the area which we lock up, which was a bit of a shame," he said.
If the alleged thieves needed food, Mr Smerdon said the school would have been happy to help.
He said the school had a family support worker and could direct those in need to the right place.
"If people were in need and wanted the produce, I'm sure the kids would have supplied it," he said.
"In future fellas, come and ask us."
Since the theft, Mr Smerdon said the community responded positively and had donated money and produce.
He said the Lions Club donated $100 to help the school recoup the veggie patch.
"The positive thing is we got to model those sentiments and the community responded positively," he said.