Grinches Cutting, Stealing Trees From Denver Parks

DENVER (AP) - Maybe it's the season, but someone's chopping down trees in city parks and taking them.

City officials say a blue spruce has been stolen from Ash Grove Park in southeast Denver. Another tree was cut down a few miles away in Lindsley Park.

City Forester Robert Davis says the suspicion is the trees are being used for the holidays.

The thieves might get a free Christmas tree, but Denver taxpayers pay the bill. City officials say each tree costs $330 and labor is another $495. They say the city has a limited budget for tree replacement.

If caught, the thieves will face criminal penalties as well as having to reimburse the city for the tree.

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