i have gone out there three times now with 2 different people and tried to get to the top of the plant that was taken. i climbed the tree i leaned out as far as i can and i still can't reach it. there were 4 small side buds that were attempted to be stolen first. the branches were broken but they couldn't get the bud to rip off. i saw these small side branches first. there were 4 broken branches and only 3 buds. 1 bud was missing. this is what caught my attention. i may have never noticed the top was missing otherwise. i went back and looked at video to see what was gone. that was when i saw the top missing.
so, ... i can't get to the top from the tree and if i were in the tree and i was reaching for the smaller side buds i would have to reach past 10 other buds first so i know they were reaching from the other direction. i cannot reach the top from the tree and i would not have tried to taken those side buds from the tree.
the only logic way i can see it working is by using some type of step ladder. i brought my 4 footer out and put it next to the tree on the backside of the canopy. right at the gate to the neighbors yard. when i climb the ladder and reach over the first thing i get to is the 4 small broken side branches. when i climb to the top step and reach out and can get a perfect grip on the main stalk.
whoever did it, brought a ladder with them.
my neighbors are gone for the weekend. when they get back i want to tape a branch with a flag on it to the top of my plant where the missing top is. then i want to ask them to show me how they would get the flag. until they can show me a logical way then my suspicion will lie where it does.