Wanted: Flower thieves

Pam Carbonari, director of the Kalispell Downtown Association and Business Improvement District, is asking for help to catch whoever is behind a rash of flower pot thefts.

Flower pots were put out earlier this summer to help beautify the downtown, but they keep disappearing. More than 15 sidewalk flower pots bought by businesses have been stolen. That includes seven in the last week.

Flower pots hanging from lampposts also have been stolen downtown.

“Hundreds of dollars have been spent privately just to be lost and stolen by a few unconnected members of this community,” Carbonari told the Kalispell City Council on Monday.

With help from a local gardening business, some hanging flower pots on the lampposts were replaced. But those and other stolen flower pots will not continue to be replaced.

“Many of the businesses can’t afford to keep replacing them,” Carbonari said.

“I urge anyone out there to please if you have any information regarding this to contact the Kalispell Police Department ... We need to stop this from happening. Help us stop the thieves and spread the message that we don’t accept this behavior in our community.”

The flower pot thefts are being investigated, Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset said.

“Not all of them were reported when they occurred, so we’re trying to play catch up. At this point we are not aware of who the suspects may be, so we’re looking for help from the community for tips to hopefully put an end to it, because it is a detriment to the downtown,” he said.

Crimestoppers will offer a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest, Nasset said. It can be reached at 752-TIPS. Information can also be sent to the Kalispell Police Department at 758-7780.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.