A crochet mystery is unfolding in Bristol after a woman’s handmade creations were stolen for a second year in a row. But in an unusual twist, what was stolen a year ago has now been returned out of nowhere.
Liz Rowe, who lives in Redland, first crocheted a topper for her local post box last December to bring a little festive joy. It disappeared though within a matter of days. This year, despite the upsetting events of last Christmas, she opted to knit some toppers for her front gate and have a little faith that nobody would take them.
They too have now sadly been stolen within just three days of her putting them up. But in a bizarre twist, the missing post box topper from last year showed up later that week, a year on from when somebody took it.
“I was really upset as it had taken me quite a while to make and I had hoped to add to it for this year,” said Liz of the postbox topper. “I put a poster up on the letter box asking for it to be returned but it wasn’t.
“However, a lovely couple wrote me a beautiful note saying how much pleasure it had given them whenever they passed by. Because of this kindness and appreciation I decided to crochet some toppers for my front gate for this year, thinking these are clearly on my property so wouldn’t be stolen.
“How wrong I was! I put them out on Monday December 2 and they were also stolen on Thursday December 5. I was even more upset and decided to give up but then, bizarrely, the post box topper reappeared on Saturday evening.”
She adds: “I have no idea who stole it in the first place and whether it is the same person who has also taken the gate toppers or if there are a few crochet lovers that want my Christmas tokens. It’s a mystery.”
The whole scenario has “hurt” and “upset” her when she was just trying to “bring a little Christmas joy for the local community”. “I’m still upset about that the gate post toppers have also been stolen,” she continued.
“I had made eight as I intended to change them on a weekly basis, but have put the remaining six in the window instead as I would be devastated if they were taken as well. I struggle with such a selfish act.”