Christmas Trees Stolen From Silverton Fire Co. Lot In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Fresh-cut Christmas trees have been snapped up quickly at sales lots this December, so quickly that many of the lots have closed up earlier than usual.

That was the case for the Silverton Volunteer Fire Company, which sold out of its trees before the weekend. All that remained were two trees that were awaiting delivery to the families who bought them.

On Friday night, however, people took the trees that had been set aside.

The Silverton Fire Company posted surveillance photos in hopes someone could identify the people who took the trees.

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The theft happened about 7 p.m. Friday, fire company officials said.

"It's very obvious that we were sold out of trees as the area was dark, no members were present and they even looked at the tree sales tags, which had a family name and delivery date on it," the company said in a post on Facebook.

Pioneer Hose Company in Brick saw the post by Silverton and commented publicly offering to help.

Tom Fischer with Silverton Fire Company said the family had made other arrangements before the fire company posted on Facebook about the thefts.

"I did reach out to them and thank them for the generous offer," Fischer said. "It shows the true brotherhood of the fire company’s and their support for the community."

Surveillance video recorded two separate cars, each with two occupants, pull in and take trees. The thefts were reported to Toms River police and the fire company said any information could be sent to the police, to Fischer at tfischer@trfire.org, to Sean Walker at swalker@trfire.org, or directly to the Silverton Fire Company's Facebook page.

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