When 12 of Richard Fenn's beloved bonsai trees were stolen from his Tauranga backyard, he never thought he'd see them again.
So when hours after Fenn's plight was published in the Bay of Plenty Times in September and 10 bonsai were returned by a stranger, he was overwhelmed.
A reader who spent $2500 unwittingly buying them then read the story and gave them back to Fenn, knowing how heartbroken he was.
These days, the retiree is still delighted at the return of the trees which sit in his Tauranga home's backyard, but he's taking no chances at them going missing again.
"I've installed some security lights so if anyone goes in there, the whole places lights up," he said.
Fenn has also incorporated some hardy hooks with nuts and bolts to fix his trees to the bench shelves they sit on. If anyone tries taking them again, they'll have a heck of a struggle.
"It gives me some piece of mind," he said.
Fenn hasn't acquired any more trees since September. He simply hasn't had the time.
Each day he devotes his energy to pruning, maintaining and repotting his 23 trees which "become like family".
"If you have kids you feed them. You can't just walk off and leave them. A baby will grow to about 18 before they head away but the trees don't."
Fenn admits he is a glutton for challenges and finds reward in caring for the intricacies and high maintenance of each bonsai. He already has plans lined up for the cutting, repotting, and reshaping of some key bonsai in the weeks to come.
He also enjoys painting as a hobby and finds the shaping of his trees another artistic avenue to explore.
"You are trying to create a picture. It's a piece of art, not just a tree. You have to be so careful when you think about what pieces you plan to cut.
"It's not an absolute obsession but I do get a lot of pleasure from them."