Scrooges Hit Church

Someone has targeted a Colorado Springs church to be the focus of an early Christmas ripoff. Sometime between late Saturday and early Sunday, the Calvary Chapel Eastside Church at 5070 Edison Avenue was hit. A real life Scrooge came onto church property and cut off a big chunk of an outdoor tree in the back of the church. The tree was about seven feet tall. It was to be decorated with lights for Christmas.

I spoke with Assistant Church Pastor, Tracy Dodson. He told me he was shocked about the theft of the greenery. KRDO, NewsChannel 13 has done numerous stories about how public parks have been the target of Christmas tree thieves. This is the first recent story I can remember of someone doing it on church property. The church is now spraying the rest of the trees with a skunk scent to prevent more tree ripoffs.

Assistant Pastor Dodson also says the Christmas spirit won’t be dimmed by these tree stealing Scrooges. What’s left of the tree will still be decorated in lights.

Assistant Pastor Dodson also told me this isn’t the first theft at the church. He says they’ve also had two picnic tables, an umbrella and stand, one fire pit, two park benches and copper from a rooftop air conditioner stolen over the past two years.