Stolen Christmas trees found in N.Y.

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HAMLIN, N.Y., Nov. 22 (UPI) -- A New York farmer got 350 Christmas trees, pickup and trailer back, but the Grinch who took them in the first place remained at large, police said.

The thief had brazenly taken the truck and trailer loaded with trees valued at $12,000 from Joe Haberger 's driveway in Hamlin Wednesday morning. They were found later in the day in a parking lot in Hilton, though there were a few flat tires on the trailer and about 20 trees missing.

Haberger was still thankful things turned out the way they did, Your News Now in Rochester reported.

"I was very upset because there's a lot more money there. A lot of money to replace if I didn't get it back," he said. "I'm happy it's found. I can't believe someone would steal it. They must have went on a joy ride or something."

A Monroe County Sheriff's Department spokesman said Haberger apparently had made the truck and trees easy pickings.

"It's one of those stories where a local farmer buying Christmas trees trying to sell them for the holidays and somebody decided they were going to steal them," Capt. Drew Forsythe said. "Apparently there was a key that was accessible inside the vehicle that was used to take the vehicle."