LUCERNE >> In the first break in since the Lucerne Flow Community Garden was established a decade ago, a 30-volt, DC solar water pump along with its copper wiring and the two padlocks securing the garden”s shed have been stolen.
The break in occurred between Wednesday at noon and Thursday at 2 p.m. at the garden on Highway 20, at the end of 13th Avenue.
Robert Patton, a member of the garden, said other items have been taken before when members have left them lying around, but no one has ever broken into the shed.
A report has been filed with the Lake County Sheriff”s Office, Patton said.
“I didn”t take a photo of the pump”s name plate and nobody has records of purchasing it,” Patton said. “But there”s not many well pumps floating around so if you find one at a garage sale, it very well might be ours.”
In the meantime, Patton has a gas pump on hand that he can move in and out of the garden and is in the process of setting up plumbing to use it. He expects the pump will be operational Thursday or Friday. However, the solar pump is preferred for the environmentally-friendly group.
“We”d rather use a solar pump. Gas is what we need to stop using to keep the planet alive,” Patton said.
The solar pump, which is valued at about $1,000, was donated to the group when the garden was set up. The garden is accepting donations to replace it but already relies on volunteer contributions as it is.
“The pump”s been in the same shed and under the same lock and key this whole time,” Patton said. “People will pick up anything we leave laying around. But we can”t be at the garden all the time so we just try not to leave anything out.”
Anyone with information about the stolen pump or who would like to make a donation can contact a community garden member at 318-8983.
