Authorities in California are currently on the lookout for an individual who was captured on camera stealing a Christmas tree from the roof of a family’s SUV. The incident unfolded at approximately 5:20 p.m. on December 1st in a parking lot located on Bridgepointe Parkway in San Mateo.
According to the post, an unidentified vehicle pulled up beside the victim’s SUV and swiftly severed the ropes that secured the Christmas tree to the roof. The tree was then deftly removed from the roof and placed into the cargo area of the suspect’s own SUV. Basically, “A vehicle pulled up next to the victim’s and quickly cut the ropes holding the tree to the roof, slid it right off and into the cargo area of the suspect SUV.”
The suspect, aptly referred to as “Mr. Grinchmas,” seemed to take their time during the theft, which was captured on video from a nearby business at the Bridgepointe Shopping Center. The footage provided two different vantage points of the incident, lasting for more than five minutes.
The victim, who had purchased the tree for $250, expressed her disbelief at the audacious theft in an interview with KTVU. San Mateo police did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Nevertheless, they did announce on social media that the lot where the victim initially purchased the Christmas tree had been kind enough to replace the tree free of charge.
In light of this incident, the San Mateo Police Department issued a public advisory urging shoppers to take precautions to safeguard their belongings. They recommended not leaving packages unattended in vehicles, condensing shopping bags, minimizing trips to and from their cars, and, when acquiring a Christmas tree, postponing the visit to the tree lot until the end of their shopping or errands.
As of the most recent reports regarding this specific theft, local media indicated that the suspect remained at large as of Monday, and the investigation was ongoing.