Christmas tree thieves' plans axed by ownerOk, I know this is a New Zealand article but I thought it was too good to not post here for the rest of us to enjoy!
Christmas tree thieves' plans axed by owner
Two would-be New Plymouth Christmas tree thieves lost their chainsaw and wound up empty handed in police custody.
The two-hour drama began about 9pm last Friday, when a neighbour of Cedar Lodge Nurseries, on Egmont Rd New Plymouth, heard a chainsaw being started and called the owner Greg Sampson.
Mr Sampson grabbed his dog and jumped in his car, wearing only shorts, a T-shirt and jandals to go and investigate.
Arriving at the nursery Mr Sampson could hear rustling so let his rottweiler-cross dog go while he rang police.
"It could have only been a cat, a possum or a Christmas tree thief," he said.
He had just hauled a man out from under a tree when police arrived.
A police dog tracked a second offender across farm land for 2km before he was caught.
Mr Sampson said he later found the 1.5m tall tree, valued at about $30, the men had attempted to steal.
"It appears that they had used the chainsaw as an axe and then tried to rip it out of the ground roots and all," he said.
The police took the men's chainsaw and they've been charged with burglary.
The New Plymouth pair, aged 32 and 39, are due to appear in the New Plymouth District Court tomorrow.
