- A tree thief stole a Christmas tree from a car in California in the middle of the day
- Video shows the Grinch cutting the ropes and throwing the tree into his own car
- In the Bay Area, robberies and car thefts have increased this year
Video shows a real-life Grinch stealing a Christmas tree from the roof of a car in broad daylight in California's crime-ridden Bay Area.
The theft occurred Friday at a San Mateo shopping center, shortly after the family purchased the tree for $250. KTUV.
Footage shows the white Infiniti SUV backing up next to the unsuspecting vehicle with the tree tied on top.
Then you see the Grinch cutting the ropes holding the tree and rolling him off the black SUV.
The thief throws it in the back of his car and drives away with the freshly cut evergreen.
Shocking video shows a real Grinch in the white SUV driving up to the black SUV and stealing the Christmas tree from the roof
The thief cuts the rope connecting the tree to the car in broad daylight in a San Mateo shopping center
He then throws the freshly cut evergreen into his car and drives away with it. The police are still looking for the suspect
San Mateo police said this KGO the business is 'unique' and 'Grinchy because there are people with good hearts who are more than willing to help people who cannot afford a tree at this time of year.'
Authorities said they are still looking for the suspect, but the Christmas tree lot gave the family a new tree to make up for their shocking loss.
The Bay Area has been plagued by crime and theft. As of Sunday, the latest data from the San Francisco Police Department shows that robberies have increased by 13.7 percent this year and motor vehicle theft has increased by 6.5 percent.
Dozens of stores and businesses have closed in the city of Golden Gate due to the increase in crime, drug use and the increasing homeless population.
Last month, a lifelong San Francisco resident filmed her walk to work through the drug-infested streets that have made the city an international symbol of misery and despair.
“The fear we experience as we travel to work in the Tenderloin every day is unbelievable,” she wrote.
“There are so many concerns and protections for drug users and the homeless, but what about the working class who have to pray that they can get to and from work in this environment.”
“These are real dangers that you face every day just to provide for your family.”
Economists call the crisis a “doom loop,” referring to a city's decline when tax revenues fall as residents and businesses leave, sending revenues down in a downward spiral that is difficult to reverse.
Even homeless pirates are raiding houseboats in San Francisco Bay.
A recent one CBRE analysis found San Francisco has a market-wide vacancy rate of 34 percent.
An analysis by DailyMail.com shows that the city will lose $200 million annually if major companies leave the city. Starbucks closed seven stores in the city of Golden Gate and Microsoft left its 50,000-square-foot office.