TUCSON (KVOA) - A local nursery has been burglarized numerous times.

Plants for the Southwest Nursery has been in business since 1986.

It is located at Stone Avenue and Blacklidge Drive in midtown.

Gene Joseph owns the business along with his wife. Joseph said in the last three months they've been burglarized eight times, which has cost them $10,000 in damages, so far.

"And that doesn't include the security systems that we put in place," he said. "Doesn't include our time to repair things - three of those break-ins, they cut through our chain link fence."

Joseph sells cactus plants from every desert in the world. Lately surveillance video showed a man breaking into the nursery and stealing plants, planters, and even a $300 table. The thief also stole a $1,200 ceramic owl.

Joseph believes it is the same person breaking into his business.

He described some of the videos.

"He's (suspect) aware of the camera he never looks at the camera," he said. "Kind of a distinctive walk and he's slightly hunched over almost as if he's an older person."

Yet in one of the videos Joseph said, the same person is seen jumping down from a six-foot fence.

Tucson Police Department have also received the videos. They said they are actively investigating this case.

If anyone recognizes this individual, call 88-CRIME.

"There's a lot of great stuff here," Cal Kelley, a Master Gardner who teaches cacti classes throughout the state, said. "And unfortunately people don't want to pay for it."

The nursery has exotic and rare plants that run into the hundreds and thousands of dollars.

The Master Gardner said he had a message for the thief.

"Get a job and pay for it, like the rest of us," Kelley said.

The owner goes one step further he said he wants to prosecute the thief and have him go to jail.

Have a news tip or would like to report a typo? Email Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@kvoa.com.

Lupita Murillo is an investigative reporter. She is part of the Digging Deeper team that uncovers important issues focusing on crime that affects the community.

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