A man was caught on camera falling from a ladder during a theft at a community garden centre in Sunderland, officials confirmed. The incident occurred between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 19, at Sunderland Home Grown CIC, located in Thompson Park. The organisation, which has been providing gardening training and therapeutic services to vulnerable individuals since 2015, reported the theft to police.

Two separate thefts took place within the hour, involving the removal of plant pots valued at more than £200 in total. One theft resulted in the loss of approximately £70 worth of goods, while the subsequent incident saw items worth around £150 taken. The events were captured on CCTV footage shared on social media, where it quickly attracted significant public attention, amassing over 277,000 views.

Gary Hillery, manager of Sunderland Home Grown CIC and a founding member since its establishment, expressed concern over the thefts. “We started with nothing back in 2015, and we have had huge support from the local community, and funding from the lottery and government to help us," he said. "We have created a nursery and offer training to those in the Southwick and Sunderland area. This sort of thing is not common, but we do think we know who this is through previous incidents, although we can't confirm this.”

Hillery noted that the organisation is valued within the community but acknowledged that such incidents can undermine their efforts. “There are always a couple of bad eggs trying to spoil things for everyone else. The public have been really good with us, and seeing him falling from the ladder in the video shows the sort of person he is,” Hillery added.

Northumbria Police confirmed the theft had been reported and said officers were investigating the matter. The organisation continues to seek community support as it recovers from the losses.