Police take a dim view of gnome prank

JONATHAN CAMERON/Manawatu Standard

OFFICE GARDEN: Palmerston North police property officer Carrie Martin has had to share her office with an assortment of gnomes and garden ornaments. They were found abandoned on a traffic island.

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One lay on the ground, another enjoyed a pipe and two shared cheeky glances but a group of garden gnomes found loitering on a Palmerston North street were unfazed about spending a night in the slammer.

Two police officers found 15 garden ornaments, including four gnomes, at the intersection of Monrad St and Pioneer Highway about 1.30am on Thursday.

Sergeant Chris Allemann and a constable were driving when they spotted the gnomes.

"They were just standing on a traffic island staring at us, so we just chucked them in the boot," Mr Allemann said.

"A few of them were really heavy ... and made of solid concrete."

Mr Allemann had driven past the traffic island earlier in the night but had not seen the gnomes.

"They must have gone to a bit of effort to steal them and put them there.

"I've seen weirder things but it was quite funny and quite unusual."

Despite the offenders' mischievous intentions, Mr Allemann did not condone their crimes which included theft and trespass.

"They've been on someone's property at night which frightens people," he said.

"It's probably all done with mischief in mind but it endangers people's feelings of safety. That's what concerns me."

A grinning head, terrracotta pot man and pair of doves on a plinth were also among the items now living on the floor of the Palmerston North police property office.

Property officer Carrie Martin said gnomes had arrived at her office in the past but were not a commonly lost or stolen item.

Letterboxes were also commonly targeted by mischief-makers, she said.

The gnomes would be put up for auction if unclaimed after three months.

They remained stonily silent when approached for comment.