THE SHELF VANISHED.

To say Maria Johnson has a green thumb would be an understatement. For years, colorful violets were a common sight at her Bonaire neighborhood home, where she has lived for 20 years. Johnson’s violets were one of her passions.

“I love flowers, and I even belonged to a club,” she says.

Johnson enjoys her neighborhood and

The Victim: Maria Johnson

The Crime: Theft

Date: Thursday, Nov. 3

Time: Between 10 a.m. and noon

Location: 200 block of Bonaire knows many people in the area. And while she no longer grows violets, Johnson still nurtures plants. To help with her gardening, Johnson uses a 6-foot-high shelf system to keep plants outside in good weather, and then moves them to another shelf inside her garage during cold weather. The outdoor shelf helped keep her plants healthy and green, and Johnson had owned the shelf for more than 30 years.

Unfortunately, her outdoor shelf was made of aluminum, a coveted commodity by thieves right now as prices of aluminum climb higher and higher. Last Thursday, she noticed the shelf was gone.

“It’s sad,” she says of the theft. “I’ve never had anyone steal anything here.”

Johnson will continue watering and maintaining her plants, but is disappointed something as simple as a plant shelf would be a thief’s target.

Dallas Police Sgt. Keitric Jones of the Northeast Patrol Division says his department has definitely noticed an increase in metal theft over the last few years, not only because of increased metal prices, but possibly for other reasons as well.

“This increase may also be due to the economy and more vacant homes and apartments,” he says.

Any items outdoors should be secured and will help reduce metal and property theft, Keitric adds.

Police still seeking driver who killed 14-year-old Andrew Green

Police continue to investigate the Oct. 23 hit-and-run that took the life of 14-year-old Lake Highlands student Andrew Green (pictured here).

According to his friends who witnessed the incident, a dark SUV hit the boy at about 2 a.m. near the corner of Church and Skillman, dragging his body several feet before driving away. Green was dead by the time paramedics arrived.

That night, his family and about 100 friends from the Lake Highlands community gathered for a vigil to remember Green, who is described as the freshman who “loved sports, loved the girls and loved to dance,” says his mother, Tyrlonda Banks.

—Christina Hughes Babb

“Please. Please,” she begged. “If you know anything about this, call the police. That was my baby. They just left him there.”

Anyone with information should call detectives at 214.670.4415. For updates on this developing story, visit lakehighlands.advocatemag.com.