Vancouver police catch alleged flower thief

Vancouver police, with the help of Fred Meyer loss prevention employees, arrested a 41-year-old man who stands accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of plants from one of the stores’ gardening center.

The Fred Meyer at 11325 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. had seen numerous hanging flower baskets and other merchandise from its gardening center’s displays disappear over the past several weeks, the Vancouver Police Department said in a release.

Loss prevention investigated the thefts and reached out to the police department, and a suspect was identified.

On Saturday, Vancouver police detectives executed search warrants at a home in the 1700 block of Northeast 125th Avenue and a vehicle at the address.

“(Detectives) recovered 157 stolen plants, a garden cart, a display rack and methamphetamine,” the VPD release says. “The value of the stolen property is estimated at approximately $6,000.”

Thomas M. Aldin was booked into the Clark County Jail on suspicion of second-degree possession of stolen property, theft with intent to resell, trafficking stolen property and possession of meth.