The Lebanon Police Department is on the lookout for three individuals implicated in the audacious theft of a Christmas tree from a local Subway restaurant. According to WKRN, the suspects entered the Subway on Sparta Pike and, after enjoying a meal, executed their unlikely heist. Surveillance footage captured the trio leaving the restaurant together before one returned to snatch the tree, albeit leaving its base behind in a moment verging on slapstick.
In an interview, Lebanon's Public Information Officer Zach Patton recounted, "one actually sat down and ate food," detailing the casual onset of the events that led to the theft. This act of holiday mischief prompted the Lebanon Police to engage the community via social media, seeking assistance in identifying the culprits behind the #Grinch act, imploring the public to "Help us save Christmas!" as reflected in a post on their official page, sourced from Lebanon Police Dept X.
🎄Christmas tree stolen In Lebanon—work of the #Grinch? LPD is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying subjects involved in a recent Christmas tree theft from the Subway on Sparta Pike. Help us save Christmas! If you have any info regarding the identities, give us a call! pic.twitter.com/TOEYfa3aMc
— Lebanon Police Dept (@LebanonPD) November 27, 2024
Fox 17 provides further insight into the mayhem, describing how after the initial departure from the Subway, one man, "wearing glasses and a pink shirt," appeared to scope out the Christmas display before returning with irreverence to swipe the decoration. Upon his hasty exit, a solitary bulb rolled across the Subway floor — an oddly serene footnote to an otherwise brazen act caught on video.
In response to the incident, Patton offered practical advice for the coming shopping season, stressing the importance of securing deliveries and being vigilant against theft. "Get a trusted family member or friend or neighbor to maybe pick up the package for you," Patton advised, according to WKRN. The Lebanon Police are deploying a 360-degree camera around high-traffic shopping areas to deter crime, hoping that such measures will prevent further Grinch-like occurrences as the holidays draw closer. Patton also mentioned that the surveillance tool would be headed to the Square as part of these efforts.
The stolen Christmas tree has since been returned, and the suspects have been identified, resolving this unusual Yuletide tale. However, the Lebanon Police Department remains on alert, hoping the return of the tree symbolizes a rekindling of the true spirit of the season, previously disrupted by this unexpected caper.
