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Police warning over Christmas gnomes left in people’s gardens for sinister reason (www.independent.co.uk)

submitted 1 year ago by Emperor to c/andfinally

10 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Police have issued a warning to anyone who finds a mysterious “Christmas gnome” in their garden.

While at first glance the cuddly festive decorations appear to have been randomly left, the officers in North Wales believe there may be a more sinister explanation.

If the gnome is not collected by the resident or removed from its location, it could be a sign that the property is empty and an “easy target” for burglars.

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[–] m0darn@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

These police are absolutely deranged. Criminals aren't necessarily smart but they would obviously see that it would be easier more effective to use something less expensive than a gnome. Faster than placing a gnome. More Covert than placing a gnome. More likely to be adjusted/removed when noticed than a gnome.

Like what criminal would order/make a bunch gnomes when they could go to a grocery store and pick up 1000 flyers to leave on people's doorsteps. Worried about them blowing away? A pocketful of gravel.

Granted: a person on vacation might ask a neighbor to collect their mail, so burglars may miss some marks (false positive) but that is way better than robbing an occupied home because they left their gnome in place (false negative).

Also you don't have to explain to anyone why you're walking around the neighborhood with a bag full of fucking gnomes.

[–] Emperor 6 points 1 year ago

Also gnomes would tend to be nicked by:

Kids
People returning from the pub

And how many gnomes would be required for this? 1,000? More?

It seems more likely that someone has had a little art project to inject a bit of fun and mystery into the world and everyone has lost their shit.

[–] 15liam20 6 points 1 year ago

It would be no problem in Scotland where they have freedom to gnome.

[–] Mr_Blott 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Shared in Kazakhstan babe XXOXX

[–] FatLegTed 1 points 1 year ago

U OK hun?

Hugz

[–] Cruxifux@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Any police and media involved in this stupidity should be labelled “not fit for duty” and removed from their jobs. I’m so sick of seeing the world go stupid like this man.

[–] echodot 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's racist curtain twitcher level logic.

Everything done for any reason whatsoever is done by criminals who are going to eat your dog or something.

Do they have a shred of evidence?

[–] Emperor 1 points 1 year ago

They have some gnomes, I suppose.

It's a bit like when people start getting nervous about Tramp Signs which are usually kids messing about. It's low level mass hysteria where something that's likely innocent has been misinterpreted and got out of hand.

[–] Treczoks 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A hot case for the GGLA - The Garden Gnome Liberation Army!

[–] Emperor 1 points 1 year ago

Now there's an opportunity to have fun with it.