Citrus swindler preys on baby lemon tree outside family home

A Brisbane mother has recounted the moment she realised her lemon tree had been stolen from the front of her family home.

Ineke McMahon thought she was doing everything right.

She locks all her doors, secures the family's cars inside and even has home security installed.

READ MORE: Mum living in squalor after daughter sells family home for $1m acreage

But it was a lemon tree she planted on her front nature strip just five months ago that became the focus of thieves in the dead of night.

"I believe it was definitely a random person who was scouting, looking for things to steal," McMahon said.

"When the car goes past in the first pass, you can see she's going incredibly slowly."

At 4.10am, the car returned, parking just out of shot.

Minutes later, a shadowy figure emerged from across the street, before a horticultural hit job unfolded.

The bizarre theft has been reported to police who are on the lookout for a seedy culprit.

"My vision was of neighbours coming home of an afternoon with their kids after school and picking a lemon to go home and have with their gin and tonics," McMahon said.

"It was unbelievable. We just couldn't believe it.

"It's distressing and also highly amusing at the same time."

Watch the full video in the player above.