TUCSON (AP)  Anyone swiping a saguaro cactus from the desert could soon be hauling off more than just a giant plant.

National Park Service officials plan to imbed microchips in saguaros, Arizona’s signature plant, to protect them from thieves who rip them from the desert to sell them to landscapers, nurseries and homeowners.

The primary objective is deterrence, but the chips also will help track down and identify stolen saguaros, said Bob Love, chief ranger at Saguaro National Park near Tucson.

“There’s probably more of it that occurs than we’re aware of,” Mr. Love said.

The largest theft occurred last year, when 17 saguaros were dug up and stashed for transportation later. The culprits were caught, but in other cases three to five plants were taken.