Bush, I'm sorry you have a thief in your neighborhood!
A person should not have to robber-proof their gardens in their own yard.
Putting the electric fence is a good idea.
You could always say it's to keep the animals out;) .
Or a pad/key lock on the gate doors, if that's possible, might work too.

The lock and key wow that is a good idea... the one I suspect is probably late 60's early 70's I don't think he could climb the fence... I would not do electric becuas eI have too amny animals and also I would not want it to harm squirrels or birds..

I say keep the "prodder thingy" in close view so you can stake out the place and catch him red handed!! :):):)

I want to use the prodder thighy as well lol. I would love to see him skipping up the street with a little jolt of electricity to his butt.

We have a group called citizens on patrol, my neighbor reported my tomatoes being stolen, I really don't thik they can do anything about it, they only walk the neighborhood until 9 pm, I'm sure my thief works between 1 and 5 am. I saw him steal a landscape tie at 1 am, my husband saw him rushing up the street a few years back with a huge pot of flowers around 4 am. The police say if they don't get a report of theft on such items maybe he was out visitng friends and they gave them to him... yeah right.

On a lighter note I got 2 nice cucumbers from my garden, diced them and put them in ranch dressing... they were yummy.

OK guys, it is that time of year again. I bought my seeds, they are going in dirt tomorrow... I am going to get a fence around the two huge raised beds, and one medium size one made just for strawberries... wish me luck and fill me in on anything new you all are doing... I miss this great thread!
I also got some gigantic sunflowers for along the fence line... can I start those indoors first or are they best to be in the dirt they are going to live in for the rest of their lives?
If you are starting yer garden... GOOD LUCK!