CCTV has captured the bizarre moment a woman with a torch is seen snooping around a garden in the early hours.

The footage shows the “brazen” individual in Ashford scoping out the patio and entering through a gate at 3.30am before rummaging around in various plant pots.

It comes as police investigate a series of plant thefts in the area, but no arrests have been made.

Angry resident Karon March told KentOnline her security system recorded the “carefree” intruder, who was seemingly “undeterred” by the garden light.

The video, which was circulated on social media, shows a woman approaching the garden with a torch.

Wearing a rucksack, light top and blue trousers, she can then be seen walking along the perimeter fence and entering through a garden gate.

The woman appears to make two attempts to grab one shrub and puts something in her pocket, before rummaging inside another pot.

She can then be seen leaving the property after the camera pans from left to right and the security light flickers.

Ms March explained: “I’m angry. What gives her the right to do it?

“She’s just so carefree.

“When my security light goes on it doesn't deter her at all.”

Ms March explained she left for work last Tuesday morning and noticed her garden gate had been left open.

When her husband looked back at the video he saw the woman creeping around the garden for almost three minutes, but she goes in and out of shot as the camera’s lighting dims.

She added: “It’s very strange, and she’s very brazen

“Leaving for work we noticed that our front gate was wide open, and my husband then looked and saw we had actually had plants stolen from our garden too.”

Meanwhile, Ms March’s “livid” neighbour Jan Samson also claims to have had plants stolen on two separate occasions, but it is not known if the incidents are connected.

She says a box containing 12 flowers and then five fuchsia plants were taken from her garden.

Mrs Samson recalled: “I couldn't understand how people could be so stupid - I was absolutely livid.”

The 79-year-old says her husband “really loves” his garden, and the couple were looking forward to seeing it in full bloom this summer.

Mrs Samson added: “It’s such a silly thing to do - it's bizarre especially as all of them were at around 3.30am, which is such a funny time in the morning.”

A police spokesman confirmed no arrests have been made, adding: “We have received reports relating to the thefts of flowers and plants from outside properties in Little Knoll, Ashford.

“Incidents allegedly occurred overnight at one address on Wednesday, May 10, and Monday, May 15, and at another on Tuesday, May 23.

“Inquiries are ongoing.”