Early birds get worms at nursery

STAFF at a Hervey Bay nursery were left scratching their heads after some eco-friendly thieves broke in and stole a worm farm.

Other garden supplies, including concrete statues, terracotta pots and hydroponic beads, were also lifted by the green-thumbed intruders during a night raid at Airport Nursery and Landscape Supplies.

Nursery hand Lorna Sanders described as "peculiar" the motivation to steal a worm farm, which recycles food scraps and creates fertiliser, and some bottles of worm conditioner.

She said there must be a very strange black market out there.

"It's really weird," she said.

"We don't sell many, let alone think someone would want to steal one. For someone to risk a break-and-enter for a worm farm is pretty sad.

"We'd probably go down in history as having the first worm farm stolen."

It would have taken at least two people to lug the various items of gardening gear to a waiting vehicle after cutting a hole in the nursery's perimeter fence, Ms Sanders said.

"They took several concrete ornaments and one of those was very heavy. It was about 50 kilos.

"It's a big effort they've gone to and they would've been here for a while."

The stolen stock was worth several hundred dollars, but Ms Sanders said it was more the invasion of privacy that upset the staff.

Anyone who noticed suspicious behaviour near Booral Rd and Ellengowan St on Monday night can call police or Crime Stoppers.