You wake up one morning to go out and do your bonsai chores. Your going to weed, water, fertilize,and do the 100 other things on your on your list with your trees. You gaze over at your collection of hard worked trees and you notice a hole in your line up. Something rings in your head that something should be there in that hole.....That thing should be one of your trees! As the reality sinks in that someone has stolen one of your trees the feeling of anger, frustration and violation sinks in.

You think, what can I do? Outside of reporting the theft to the authorities, you think I'll put notice up on the internet... maybe someone will view my notice of misfortune. So you wait and wait, wondering if someone is looking at your post. Knowing that the thief has the time to make his get away and possibly sell your tree, making it all that much harder to track down.

The Bonsai Theft Reporting Network was launched in an effort to help the bonsai community combat situations described above, world wide. Time is of the essence when a tree has been stolen. The faster the community is made aware of the theft the better chances are that the tree might be recovered. By allowing the thief time to sell a tree while the word slowly gets out, the odds increase that the tree won't be recovered or the thief tarred and feathered.

The BTR Network is an instant notification system to all members that participate. When a tree is reported stolen an instant alert is sent out with in minutes of notification to the desktops of the people participating on the network. No hoping that a person will click on a web page of stolen trees.

Here is how it works:


You report to the BTR Network that your tree has been stolen. If more than one tree was stolen you need to report each tree individually. In your report you need to include the following information:

Your Name: (actual person that theft happened to)

Approximate time and date of theft:

Location of theft:(City and State)

Image:(Please include a recent image of the tree. More sides the better)

Type of Tree / Common Name: (example...Elm,JBP, Shimpaku Juniper, Pfitzer Juniper)

Type of Tree / Botanical Name: (example...Ulmus, Pinus thunbergiana, Juniperus x Media 'Shimpaku')

Style of Tree: (example...Slant, Formal Upright, Cascade)

Distinguishing Marks: (example...Hollow on Trunk, Large Jin on Trunk)

Trunk Size:

Tree Height :

Type of Pot: (example...Plastic, Mica, Tokonoma)

Pot Size: (example...10x8x2.5, 12x3 for round)

Pot Color:

Distinguishing Characteristics: (example...crackle finish, nail heads, twisted feet)

As soon as your report is received it is entered into BTR Network's database which is a viewable index of stolen trees. Once in the system the alert is sent out to all participating members who will view the alert instantly. The alert shows up on your desktop no matter if your browser or toolbar is open or closed. The recipient then clicks on the link to view the information. There is no searching for who has had a stroke of bad luck, you'll be notified of it right away and be aware to help.



If the community comes together under this program you'll be helping anyone that has the misfortune of experiencing this type of event, including (god forbid) yourself. This program is not a guarantee that your tree will be recovered but it will substantially increase the odds. To participate simply download the tool bar.


Install Toolbar


To report a stolen tree, email with the information and image to : BTR Network