Grinch sells lot's trees, pockets money and flees
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TACOMA, Wash. -- A Christmas tree lot is usually a place of good cheer. But at Tacoma's Two-Five Trees, an opportunistic Grinch pulled a mean one.
"She just started telling everyone, 'Hey, $20 trees!' Selling them for way less than they're worth, you know," said Justin Mayfield.
The woman began selling trees even though she doesn't work at the lot. In all, she sold nine trees before she she fled.
"So all the trees she sold to whoever was coming by to buy a tree -- she pocketed the money and left," said customer Belinda.
Justin Mayfield opens this lot every year to raise money for a nonprofit organization he founded called Locallife.The group works to improve struggling neighborhoods.
"So it was sad to see someone would come and not only take advantage of what we were doing, but be so brazen, so bold about it," he said.
Some of Mayfield's customers think that's as low as someone can go.
"I think that's disgusting, I do. Isn't this for charity?" said customer Traci Hoenow.
The lot has security cameras, but they didn't capture the Grinch.
So the tree sellers will now move the security office trailer a lot closer to the tree, and never leave the lot unguarded or unattended.
"She just started telling everyone, 'Hey, $20 trees!' Selling them for way less than they're worth, you know," said Justin Mayfield.
The woman began selling trees even though she doesn't work at the lot. In all, she sold nine trees before she she fled.
"So all the trees she sold to whoever was coming by to buy a tree -- she pocketed the money and left," said customer Belinda.
Justin Mayfield opens this lot every year to raise money for a nonprofit organization he founded called Locallife.The group works to improve struggling neighborhoods.
"So it was sad to see someone would come and not only take advantage of what we were doing, but be so brazen, so bold about it," he said.
Some of Mayfield's customers think that's as low as someone can go.
"I think that's disgusting, I do. Isn't this for charity?" said customer Traci Hoenow.
The lot has security cameras, but they didn't capture the Grinch.
So the tree sellers will now move the security office trailer a lot closer to the tree, and never leave the lot unguarded or unattended.
She she?
Mr. Mayfield, how can the community help?
Well sheesh this is just yet another bad Christmas time story - sheesh... You should not have to guard Christmas trees from thieves...Â
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The lady and I do not even have a tree this year, it is a fire hazard and though the smell is pleasant we have our Christmas tree in our hearts and that cannot be stolen!
In some cases I think that someone may steal something because they are down on their luck and just needed to get by. But this, this was obviously preplanned and well carried out so it shows some sort of intelligence. Unfortunately it also shows a person who thinks this way as a career. Too bad they couldn't use some of those smarts to do good instead of bad.
I bet it was that Katt Williams jerk....oh wait they said she she so it can't be him.
SICK!
I was just saying on another story that "I just may have to quit reading/watching the news for a while just because I'm getting sick of hearing about this kind of stuff all the time. Lately it's almost literally been every day! Just sick of it!" Now sure enough, here it is again! Sothe owner of the lot formed a non-profit foundation called the Locallife. Sounds like the jackass here should have her own called the Lowlife!
BTW KOMO, she sold nine trees before she she fled? Man, sounds like she she is a real scammer!
Grinch, hell, it is plain theft. The guy must think he is a government agent.
You mean, they left their merchandise unattended for a period of time? Sounds like they aren't very smart.
@Peregrine Hey this is Justin mom.. He's beyond smart.. And very generous and a hard worker!! Have you ever ran a christmas tree biz.. I've got 3 lots and he learned from me, you where all the hats 24/7 for a month. It's incredible hard work for very little profit, contrary to belief. Your the one that doesn't seem very smart making a comment with little to no knowledge! And he's non profit to boot..shame on you, but merry Christmas anyway..
 @Peregrine You can't see every square inch and corner of a tree lot simultaneously; many are taller than most people.
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This sorry POS probably just wandered around chatting people up then took their cash as the real owner was helping other customers. People don't generally wear formal business attire when schlepping heavy, messy, sticky Christmas trees around the lot and into/onto people's vehicles.Â
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Let's start holding the lowlife scum piles accountable for their actions rather than denigrating victims for not spending thousands on armed guards for a charity Christmas tree lot that probably spends plenty out of his own pockets, not to mention hundreds of hours of his time, to keep this going.Â
 @MargeGunderson "Let's start holding the lowlife scum piles accountable for their actions"Â
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100% agree.