news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Around 50 Christmas trees were damaged Sunday as vandals ransacked a tree lot and cost a local family thousands in profit.

Sometime early Sunday, someone vandalized Bruce Wagoner’s Christmas and Evergreens, located at 1601 Westover Terrace in the parking lot of the old City Motors building.

Bruce Wagoner said two of his employees arrived for work Sunday around 9 a.m. to find the lot ransacked.

Someone knocked over around 50 Frasier Fir trees from their wooden stands — heavily damaging the trunks of the trees which were supported by steel pegs.

“The whole center section — it looked like a tornado had came through,” Wagoner said.

“They ripped the trees down — they had taken the trees, put their foot on the pegs and ripped them down.”

The vandals also flipped tables in a wreath preparation tent, turned over a portable toilet and damaged a fence surrounding the lot as they tried to make off with a 10 by 8 foot trailer used to haul the trees.

The trailer was found abandoned in another part of the parking lot.

Stolen were boxes of tree stands and numerous extension cords that were running from the old auto sales building.

Wagoner said for every tree damaged — he’s losing around $10 to $15 — the amount he’s having to reduce the the selling price for a shorter, re-trimmed tree.

He estimated the vandals cost him anywhere between $2,000 to $3,000 in all — the amount of a good day’s profit.

“I was pretty disheartened because this is my livelihood. This is how I make money to live on and support my family,” Wagoner said.

He is the owner of Gibsonville-based Wagoner’s Nursery. His family has been selling Christmas trees in Greensboro since the 1960s.

Greensboro police are looking for anyone who may have information about the vandalism.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 373-1000.

Callers remain anonymous and are eligible for cash rewards.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com