Gardeners in Parkallen have a new pest to deal with this growing season — someone with a green thumb and sticky fingers.

Community gardens, private plots and even local businesses have been dealing with an odd rash of thefts; someone is going around and stealing flowers and vegetables from around the neighbourhood.

"Most people say 'why?' Some people are very upset,"said Marlene Wurfel, who helps run a community garden in Parkallen.

Wurfel said the thefts aren't just a case of pranksters swiping potted plants off doorsteps. Instead, the thief is actually digging plants out of the ground, and taking a variety of greenery: everything from bell peppers to flowers.

She thinks the culprit is an experienced gardener. All of the plants are dug out neatly with care taken not to the damage the other parts of the garden. As well, the thief appears to be targeting plants that are likely to survive being transferred.

"It seems quite strategic and systematic," she told CBC's Edmonton AM.

Listen to the full interview

Recently, several potato plants were taken from the community garden. However, it is far from the only target. Wurfel said other plants were taken from the garden of a nearby church. As well, a local bakery had one of its large planters swiped.

One of the worst hit was Wurfel's neighbour: heavy planters, hanging pots and flowers disappeared one day. She thinks the thief must have used a truck to haul away the ill-gotten goods.

The motivation of the plant thief is unknown. In the case of the community garden, Wurfel said anyone is free to wander in and take produce, making theft unnecessary.

"We are not expecting people to dig up whole plants and make off with them. "

She thinks the thief may be reselling the plants to make a profit. While they neighbourhood isn't gathering a "vigilante mob" to protect their gardens, Wurfel is encouraging others to report any plant thefts to police.