A BRIDE-to-be has become the latest victim of thieves targeting garden furniture, trees, plants and ornaments right across Dorset.

Julia Frier was left stunned after two trees given to her as a present by her fiancé were stolen from outside her open front door in Weymouth.

She was delighted with her pair of 10ft twisted bay trees in pots and they were placed by the front door of her home at The Octagon in Lansdowne Square, off Wyke Road.

But within a week they had been stolen and Julia is now desperate to get them back.

Julia said: "They were a present from my husband to be, Colin Grainger, and I had only had the trees for a week.

"I was having a satellite system fitted that day, but I was less than half an hour with the aerial people and I was up and down stairs during that time with the front door wide open.

"Can you believe it? The thieves must have seen the trees some time before, gone and got a van and come back for them. They also took two empty marble pots.

"I was hoping that the bay trees would form a really nice look for the front of our new home together and I really want them back.

"They were in plain terracotta pots and I just hope that someone sees them because they are quite distinctive."

The thieves were spotted and Inspector Pete Meteau of Weymouth Police said: "Someone walking their dog saw the trees being loaded into a vehicle and got part of a registration number which we are checking.

"We need to heighten people's awareness and put them on their guard because thieves are targeting gardens."

Police say she is only one of a number of households across Dorset to have had garden items stolen.

Crime prevention officer PC Sean Cannon said: "It is unusual for trees and plants generally to be stolen.

"More common targets include garden ornaments such as stone mushrooms, statues and flower pots.

"Our advice is to mark items with a special pen, paint or an engraver to suit the surface depending on the item."

He added that other anti-theft measures for more valuable items could range from special DNA grease to steel rods fixed to the ground.

Anyone who saw the bay trees being stolen or who has any information about the theft should get in touch with officers on 01305 222222.