THE HEARTBROKEN parents of two teenage boys killed in an horrific Pontaman crash almost 21 months ago have spoken of their "utter devastation" after a callous thief stole plants from the garden built in memory of their beloved boys.
Dejected Colin and Christine Matthews, whose sons Aaron and Gavin died in the September 2005 smash, said they couldn't find the words to describe how sad they felt that someone could steal the plants, which had been bought out of money raised to keep the boys' memory alive.
The thefts, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday night of last week, come just months after callous thieves stole lights from the garden, which is situated opposite Glanaman School on Cwmaman Road.
Fortunately those lights were returned after the party responsible were guilt-ridden with the outrage the incidents caused in the local community.
And the family now hope for a repeat result with the missing plants, although they believe these acts are a lot more pre-medidated.
"With the lights you thought it might have been some kids who didn't realise what they were stealing and that's why they brought them back," he said.
"But with the plants it seems whoever is responsible knows exactly what they want because they have taken different ones from all parts of the garden."
Mr Matthews said the guilty party would only have to witness the heartbreak the family has gone through to realise how much the garden meant to them.
"My wife came home devastated when she found the plants had been taken and we spent the next night tidying it all up again.
"We left at around 9pm on Wednesday night and I went back up for a walk about an hour later and more plants had gone.
"Whoever is doing this needs to realise that it is not just us they are stealing from, but from the community because they were bought from money donated by people in the area.
"I beg whoever is doing this to stop because they don't know the utter devastation they are causing us," he added.
"After what happened with the lights I know the community will be outraged and if anyone sees anything suspicious happening in the garden please get in touch with the police."
An Ammanford Police spokesman said: "People who have been touched by such a tragedy obviously don't need this kind of further anguish in their lives."
If anyone has any information please contact Ammanford Police on 0845 3302000.
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