December 10, 2007– Thieves are targeting Christmas trees in Cedar Rapids. Police say trees — fully decorated — were swiped from several front yards last week. A 9-foot tree, complete with lights and red balls, was chopped down and stolen last Thursday. Earlier in the week, it was a 3-footed decorated pine tree. Sergeant Troy Kelsay says tree thieves come out every winter, but usually the trees aren t decorated and not prominently displayed.
He says trees usually vanish from parks and vacant lots, and sometimes thieves just take the top few feet in the search for the perfect — and free — tree. (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.