Eight 'priceless' BONSAI trees are stolen from volunteer garden in crime-ridden Oakland - the fourth such theft in two years - as California city's progressive mayor and DA both face recall efforts

Eight bonsai trees worth approximately $20,000 in total were stolen in Oakland The stolen trees include a rare hinoki cypress that was about 100 years oldThe California city's progressive mayor Sheng Thao and DA Pamela Price are facing recalling efforts from residents 

A volunteer-run garden in Oakland has been stolen from for the fourth time in two years, losing eight ‘priceless’ bonsai trees, as the mayor and district attorney of the city are both facing recall efforts over crime.

Thieves broke through the wall of the Bonsai Garden in Lake Merritt, California, twice on Wednesday evening and Thursday early morning, making off with eight bonsai trees worth approximately $20,000 in total.

‘While you can put a dollar amount on these trees, they are technically priceless because you’ll never find another tree like them,’ Suzanne Muller, the garden’s assistant director, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Despite wooden walls, metal fences and a surveillance camera, the thieves managed to break into the garden and steal the trees, including a hinoki cypress that was about 100 years old.

The theft of the bonsai trees adds to the city’s soaring crime records, which documented 15,000 vehicles stolen last year and criminals striking gas stations a dozen times or more per day.

Security camera footage shows thieves entered the Bonsai Garden in Lake Merritt, California, on Wednesday night

The thieves returned again Thursday early morning, making off with eight bonsai trees worth approximately $20,000 in total

Despite wooden walls, metal fences, and a surveillance camera, the thieves managed to break into the garden and steal the trees, including a hinoki cypress that was about 100 years old

Security camera footage shows thieves entered the garden at around 9:20 pm on Wednesday and then again after 4 am on Thursday.

The eight bonsai trees include small hand-sized trees that the thieves were able to carry out through the fence, the garden’s curator Gary Tom told KTVU.

They attempted to take a ninth tree, a 60-pound redwood, but it was too large to fit through the hole in the wall, according to Muller.

Tom believed the stolen trees were ‘most likely’ targeted, especially the two Japanese apricot trees that were in bloom and in their 10-day prime out of the year.

‘There was a very rare hinoki cypress tree that had a very large trunk. The tree was only about 18 inches tall but had a girth on it that’s about eight inches,’ Tom added.

‘It’s not so much the cost, but the fact they are not replaceable,’ Gordon Deeg, the Bonsai Garden director, said.

The eight bonsai trees include small hand-sized trees that the thieves were able to carry out through the fence, the garden’s curator Gary Tom told KTVU

Tom believed the stolen trees were ‘most likely’ targeted, especially the two Japanese apricot trees that were in bloom and in their 10-day prime out of the year

‘There was a very rare hinoki cypress tree that had a very large trunk. The tree was only about 18 inches tall but had a girth on it that’s about eight inches,’ Tom added

It marks the fourth incident of theft at the garden in the past two years, and this time, the highest number of trees were stolen.

The Bonsai Garden at Lake Merrit is home to some historic trees that are more than 1,000 years old.

Cultivating bonsai trees and maintaining them at a small size require great effort, including precise trimming, proper watering and control of the sunlight they receive.

Without proper cultivation and care, bonsai trees could grow to their natural, full size, losing the value and beauty that comes from their miniature form.

Many of the trees at the Lake Merrit’s bonsai garden were donated by the plant community, and one was a gift to the U.S. from Japan during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency.

‘It’s not like you can go out and buy a replacement tree, Muller said. ‘It’s just incredibly devastating for the bonsai community.’

‘Our trees are very, very old and beautiful. They’re a work of living art. To have this kind of thing happen continuously, it’s going to devastate the garden, and it’s going to devastate the community,’ Muller added.

It marks the fourth incident of theft at the garden in the past two years, and this time, the highest number of trees were stolen

The Bonsai Garden at Lake Merrit is home to some historic trees that are more than 1,000 years old

The tree theft serves as the latest evidence of the city’s struggle with rampant crime under the leadership of progressive Mayor Sheng Tao and District Attorney Pamela Price.

The two outspoken progressives have both said that police accountability and racial equity are a priority, but fed-up locals have pleaded with them to make the Bay Area city safer.

One in thirty Oakland residents had their car stolen last year as 15,000 vehicles were stolen – a 45 percent increase in just a year.

However, less than five percent of those auto theft cases lead to an actual arrest as the California city’s understaffed and underfunded police department is preoccupied dealing with a 21 percent spike in violent crime.

The epicenter of this surge lies in Uptown and North Oakland, which witnessed a shocking 69 percent spike in car thefts, according to data from the Police Department and the state.

In October, even Price had her work laptop stolen during a car smash-and-grab outside a family justice center mid-day.

This comes as the campaign to recall Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, also known as Save Alameda for Everyone (SAFE), ramps up. The recall effort was initiated in 2023.

The tree theft serves as the latest evidence of the city’s struggle with rampant crime under the leadership of progressive Mayor Sheng Tao (pictured) and District Attorney Pamela Price, who are both facing recall efforts

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price (pictured) is facing a recall amid a surge of violent crime in the city

Earlier this month, a group led by retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte sent out an official notice of intent to start the recall process of Thao.

The organizers accused Thao of creating a public safety crisis by ‘systematically dismantling’ OPD, firing former police chief LeRonne Armstrong and failing to appoint a successor.

‘Lives have been lost, property destroyed, businesses have shut down, and fear and collective trauma are daily occurrences for Oaklanders,’ the detractors wrote in an official notice.

Thao’s chief of staff, Leigh Hanson, said in a statement that the recall campaign is ‘led by losers.’

‘I know for a fact that if Mayor Thao had lost the election, she would have conceded gracefully and found a legitimate job that contributed to moving our community forward,’ Hanson said.

‘I have faith that Oaklanders are smarter than this, and will resist the urge to be distracted by a desperate attempt for relevance.’