Garden gnome liberationists#Garden Gnome Liberation Front

The Front for the Liberation of Garden Gnomes (French: Front de Libération of Nain de Jardin, Italian MALAG ) is a self-confessed "non- profit association with the aim to free garden gnomes ." To this end, it carries out covert actions in which they stole garden gnomes from gardens and other places re-arranged - usually in the wild and " natural habitat of the garden gnome ." Under German criminal law, this may satisfy the specific requirements of trespassing. Depending on whether a Zueignungsabsicht present, there is a further ( without penalty ) property confiscation or theft.

Historical Development

The organization first appeared in France in 1996 in appearance, as she stole garden gnomes from gardens in Alençon in the Orne. This group remained active until January 1997. Later, the French front split into several groups. In addition to the actions in France have now also in neighboring countries ( Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Germany ) and found in North America imitators or offshoots of the organization.

Type of " exemptions "

In some cases, the thieves leave their victims a message where they can find their garden gnomes again, so that in these cases there is no legal theft. In other cases, there was no such message, but for convictions for theft.

Another variant is the " garden gnome traveling " in which a stolen garden gnome is photographed at different locations. The resulting images are sent regularly by mail anonymously to the address of the rightful owner, so this the way of his "liberated" garden gnome can track. Since the garden gnome is its rightful owner permanently withdrawn in this variant, it satisfies the conditions of the theft.

The stolen garden gnomes are usually found and returned by the police to their rightful owners.

The theft of garden gnomes meets those affected often a lack of understanding.