Real-Life Grinch Steals Christmas Trees From Waterbury School

Waterbury police are looking for a real-life Grinch after nearly Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} a dozen Christmas trees were stolen from a school in Waterbury over the weekend, according to police.

The trees were taken from a lot at Saints Peter and Paul School, where students and their parents have been selling the trees as part of a fundraiser.

“This is contrary to the season," Bart Cammarasana, a volunteer who helps run the tree stand, said.

Waterbury Police said someone drove into the lot after dark - at least two times - over the weekend to load up on ten trees.

“I hope they realize who and how many people they’ve affected," Cammarasan said.

The tree thieves have affected many people; mostly children, because this is the school's holiday fundraiser to help keep tuition costs down. Between $400 and $600 worth of trees are now gone, according to volunteers and police.

“You have to be low, like really low. You have to be scum of the earth," said Joseph Franqui, who has a brother that attends Saints Peter and Paul School. Franqui said his family actually spotted the tree thieves and even tried to follow the red, older model SUV they were driving. The culprits, Franqui said, managed to get away.

“Stealing trees from a Catholic school, just trying to raise money for the children, to have better books, better computers, better anything," said Franqui, of the thieves actions.
Anyone who knows who may be involved or who knows where those stolen trees are now, is urged to call Waterbury Police.

“This community comes out and supports this Christmas tree stand and I’m sure they feel it too," said Cammarasan.

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