WEST ROGERS PARK — A pair of 300-pound flower planters were stolen from Western Avenue last week, said Amie Zander, the executive director of the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce.
Zander said the chamber arranged with a local landscaping company to move the planters, not yet filled with springtime flora, from Devon Avenue early last week.
But they went missing by 6 a.m. Friday.
"Unbelievable," said Zander, perplexed as to why someone would take them. "They’re a little too large to put into any residential area because they’re bulky."
The chamber used tax money collected from the Devon Avenue Special Service Area to buy four of the concrete planters a few years ago for $500 each.
Zander said she immediately called Rogers Park Police District Cmdr. Thomas Waldera, who told her to file a report at the district's station.
But, Zander said, "They’re never gonna find them."
She said the planters were moved to Western to make way for Devon's upcoming streetscape work.
The chamber hired Patch Landscaping to move them, and the company was to eventually fill them with plants.
“I can’t believe that somebody would even think of that really, especially because there weren’t even plants in there. It’s just dirt," said Patch landscaper Matt, who declined to share his full name when reached by phone. "Who has the time ... to do that? It’s creepy to me."
The remaining two planters are on the sidewalk on Devon Avenue.
Zander said she hoped the planters would help "tie in" the Western's business district with Devon's.
Eventually, she said, the chamber will find the money to replace the stolen planters.
