Herb theft again — at least three losses for Adamsville farmer

Video footage captures woman herb farmer says is responsible for theft Wednesday

By Christian Silvia
Posted 5/9/25

Four hours into her first day of the season selling herbs, Nicole Wordell found herself in a financial hole Wednesday after an unidentified woman stole $200 worth of plants from her Adamsville stand. …

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Herb theft again — at least three losses for Adamsville farmer

Video footage captures woman herb farmer says is responsible for theft Wednesday

Posted

Four hours into her first day of the season selling herbs, Nicole Wordell found herself in a financial hole Wednesday after an unidentified woman stole $200 worth of plants from her Adamsville stand. It was at least the third theft there since the beginning of last summer, and occurred while she was out getting coffee.

“She took rosemary and lavender, which are both by cuttings and take months to root,” Wordell said, and said discovering the loss made her feel sick to her stomach.

After losing 300 plants to theft last year, Wordell considered not opening her herb stand this season. However, support from the community, including a gofundme campaign that helped her recoup her losses and purchase surveillance equipment, helped change her mind. This year, she set up cameras on trees around her Main Street property, and footage showed a woman driving a Mercedes with partially obscured New York plates selecting herbs, putting them in her car and leaving without stopping at the honor box.

“My car can barely start in the morning, and this woman is stealing from me in a Mercedes," Wordell said.

Wordell reached out to police and is waiting for the next step. Until then, her cousin, Tonya Alves, is maintaining a presence at the herb stand.

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