Thieves steal Christmas trees from Beaverton lot
»Play Video
BEAVERTON, Ore. – Dave Logan said he was surprised that anyone would target his business.
Someone stole five Christmas trees and several wreaths from Logan’s lot at an Albertson’s store in Beaverton Friday night.
“We just showed up and everything was a mess,” said Logan. “Trees were gone. The door was pried open. They didn’t get in, thank God.”
Logan said he normally sleeps in his trailer near the lot to keep an eye on his trees, but Friday night he decided to go home. The trees were left unattended.
The fifth-generation Christmas tree farmer said the thieves stole about $500 worth of merchandise.
Logan said the theft, and the declining Christmas tree business have made this season especially tough.
“It’s been declining drastically,” he said. “In the late 80s and early 90s, we were shipping ten semis to various parts of the country: California, Texas, whatever. Now, I’ve lost my last commercial account this year.”
Logan said families are buying more trees from big box retailers these days. More families are buying fake trees as well, which usually means they never buy from a tree farmer again.
Logan said he considered buying a fence for his trees in the past, but said it would be too problematic.
We heard about this story from a KATU news tip. If there’s news happening where you live, email us at newstips@katu.com
Wow, I bought a tree from this guy today before I saw the article. I've bought trees from him before at the same location - great service, great baler to wrap the tree to get it home. He has a good selection this year and the prices are good.Â
Â
It sucks that this happened to him. I wish Dave all the best.Â
 @Airgeek Is he at the Albertson's on SW Hall?
@gofigure @Airgeek Corner of Shattuck and Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy.
Begs to ask - what won't thieves steal?
 @theobserver a job
Â
Please support his lot and other locals when you do your holiday shopping.
 @Fir Queen Is he at the Albertson's on SW Hall? That's the only one I find by googling, but don't want to head out there if that's not the correct location.
Thank goodness the Hannukah bushes were left alone.
These thieves need to be caught, their sentence needs to be 6 months of community service working at a tree farm, or picking up garbage along a highway. Perhaps then they would learn to respect others.
 @Just Lookin ~  I still like the idea of old-fashioned stocks... catch these idiots, try them, convict them, then put them in the stocks in, say, Pioneer Square - or at a major intersection... and baskets of v-e-r-y ripe tomatoes, maybe some eggs, too... and put a big sign that tells exactly that the did..!   And when their time in the stocks is done, give them a bucket of water and a toothbrush and make 'em clean up the mess..!
@margay1 @Just Lookin Unfortunately the problem would be the "Stocks" reality show soon to follow and the cast being imortalized as American Heroes!
 @OliverNicholas  @margay1  @Just ~  Sadly, Oliver, you are probably 100% right..!  :-(
margay1,
All super ideas actually! Society seems to be having a lot of losers lately, or maybe the news is coming out more.
The toothbrush would be great!
 @Just Lookin Â
Â
Correction: Â s/b "...what they did..." Â typing fingers not workin' quite right...Â
 @Just Lookin ~  Tried it and "delete" button magically appeared..!  Many thanks, Just Lookin..!  :-)
margay1
After you post, hover your mouse to the right of the "flag" and it should show a "delete" button.
 @Mikey I love it..!  Only problem is, there's no "delete" button... What am I missing here..?  :-)
 @margay1 Something to consider in the future...if you make a mistake in your post, copy the text and then delete the post. Create a new post and paste the copied text into it, making whatever edits are needed.
Â
For some of us who are finger-challenged, it works wonders!  :-)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
 @Michael R. Newton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aga1BOSu7yY
I really hope they catch these scum. What needs to happen is to make them work an actual farm to understand the work that goes into every tree. It takes years of cultivation on each tree to make it what it is. Pruning and shaping the tree, adjusting the top to keep it straight, cutting handles on the bottom, mowing the fields. Every year for 6-10 years. To add to the hurt, Dave's boy has cancer and is literally fighting for his life. Everyone that reads this should go buy a tree from Dave Logan. He's a good man and his son is a good young man and they both deserve better than this.Â
I don't understand how a person could live with themselves knowing they stole a Christmas tree.. I'm sure the guy would have worked out a deal for someone that truly can't afford one at full-price.
 @Jamie Yes, I am sure he would have, after all that is what Christmas is all about. But then again you are using a logical argument in an illogical society. Something that will never work no mater how hard you try my friend!
Gee Wally, we don't need a fence do we? REALLY? Come on , man. Might as well just put out a sign that says FREE TREES!
XLRG,
Perhaps what the tree farmer could have done, was post a couple of well trained dobermans or rottweilers. His only fault was hoping perhaps that not all people are lowlife scum who feel the need to steal. There are those also who cut down trees from front yards, just because they feel they do not need to pay for anything. They are the same types who fill up with gas, and then drive off and do not feel bad about it.
That would have been fun to watch actually, a couple or groupd of thieves being taken down by canines.
@Just Lookin  Good thought, but they would probably sue ....and win... considering our legal system of today.
@XLRG  Screw you! Morons like you just love to turn crime into the victims fault. There was a time when there was no need to lock things up. Yup, keep on giving the criminals a "thumbs up" because of the "stupid victim".
 @wondering I cannot help but feel bad for the tree guy but also can see where XLRG is coming from. After all, in today's day and age to not properly secure your merchandise is silly. He should have gotten a fence or found a better way to secure the trees than just leaving them there. Especially since he was going home and was going to be nowhere on site.
These days, a person can not leave anything at all left unguarded due to thieves and vandals. The only thing I might leave unguarded would be a full size car, with a couple of bags of presents on the back seat and the windows open. Of course having a well trained doberman or other trained canine inside would be beneficial.
The tree farmer was apparently not thinking straight, he might have thought that not all people are thieves or vandals. He was wrong. The locked and secured fencing or around the clock security only keeps the honest people honest. The thieves and vandals will find a way. Too bad they do not find a way to fall from a high bridge, or tall building
I am thinking the same people that destroyed the grotto are the ones that stole the trees. I bet some Occult or gang is involved.
 @lee986321 ~  Well, even if not the same exact people, certainly the same general (criminal) mind-set...Â
 @margay1  Are you SURE it isn't some (snicker) gang of Satanic grinches?? C'mon margay, there has to be a conspiracy here somewhere... ;)
Poor taste friend. All of the Atheists I know care very much for order and are very respectful of others rights and property. Your comment is as tasteless as blaming this on a particular race or even another religious denomination.
 @margay1  @badcat Atheists.
 @badcat ~   A conspiracy of  "Satanic grinches"???   Boy, that's a stretch, even for you, badcat..!   (It's also funny... wonder what a "Satanic grinch" looks like...!)  :-)   :-)
How sad.. This tradition is coming to an end.. I can't imagine buying a christmas tree from a big retailer and feeling good about it.. Once all the family businesses are pushed out, the big boys will raise those prices sky high..
The other problem with the tree business is many people take this holiday as a big business money maker and no longer take part.. One thing for sure is it's hard work and this guy should not have to put up with thieves..
I guess the only good news is that five people won't have a pine tree cut down in their front lawn.