A POPULAR Christmas tree attraction has been destroyed – with its owners now £40,000 out of pocket after they were targeted.
Thieves raided the Pinewood Christmas Tree Plantation in Hartlebury, Worcestershire at around 7.40pm on October 10.
The Pinewood Christmas Tree Plantation was raided by thieves@asiamaee
Owner Matthew Palmer was left £40,000 out of pocketSupplied
They made off with Christmas lights, baubles, tree ornaments, wreaths and a family of polar bear props.
Owner Matthew Palmer told The Sun: “It was about three-quarters of our total stock for the season, worth £40,000.
“I honestly don’t expect to see it again. Annoyingly, it’s most likely being stored somewhere as it’s too early for the thieves to sell.
“They’ll probably try and flog it at Christmas markets.
“Running a small family business is difficult enough without small-time amateur thieves who will likely be selling it all on for a few grand.
“It’s frustrating but I’ve got nothing to say to them – I wouldn’t want to waste any more of my time on them.”
Wholesalers have helped Matthew restock his looted shop – saving the family’s Christmas.
But the dad-of-two said his wife will have to work “around the clock” to put price stickers on all the new decorations.
Matthew said: “The growing and selling of Christmas trees is our main business so we would still be trading.
“My wife will have to work round the clock as well as juggling two children and a full-time job to reprice everything.
“But it would have been a somewhat different atmosphere without the colour and sparkle from our decorations shop.”
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