It was an easy day at the office for the police officers assigned to this caper. As reported by The Daily Mail:
It was an early festive gift for John Dacre who had called in ‘special branch’ after the [Christmas] trees and dozens of holly wreaths and festive decorations went missing from his nursery in Spenborough, West Yorkshire.
The thieves had even stolen two of his trollies to cart off their loot.
You were given a hint as to how they were caught…
… once Mr Dacre had spotted the incriminating pine needles on the ground the police were soon on the case.
Together they followed the trail along the Spen Valley Ringway and across fields, stopping at a house in Firthcliffe where the officers found the trees [dumped in a garden].
Ironically, the stolen trees were “supposed to be “low needle drop” trees which don’t shed so easily.” Mr. Dacre was clearly thrilled with the outcome.
‘The police were absolutely brilliant. We walked together following this trail through the pouring rain and I joked to them that all we needed was a big magnifying glass and then we’d be real supersleuths!’
The thieves, not so much. See, the police didn’t just find the stolen items at the house.
‘As an extra present, officers also found a cannabis farm at the address.’
Hmm. Perhaps the owners sampled the crop earlier that day? Here’s the source.