Federal Way police busted a Christmas crime operation Friday, nabbing a man they said stole dozens of Christmas trees from a farm near Puyallup, as well as a truck and trailers.
About 78 trees vanished from the Snowshoe Evergreen Christmas Tree Farm off Highway 162 sometime between Saturday night and Monday morning, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. They’re valued at more than $6,000.
Police believe at least one person chopped down the trees, then cut and dragged them from the family-owned farm.
The Sheriff’s Office didn’t have a description of the thief they called “Grinch” but on social media Friday, it said, “We’re guessing their heart is an empty hole, their brain is full of spiders, & they’ve got garlic in their soul.”
Soon after, Federal Way Police said they had caught a man they said had a stolen truck, cargo trailer, fifth-wheel trailer and Christmas trees. According to police, he said he stole the trees from Snowshoe. It appeared he may have been trying to sell the trees on a pop-up lot, according to the department.
This post was updated after police made an arrest in the case Friday evening.