Thieves steal thousands of dollars worth of Christmas trees, then get arrested days later by a cop dressed as someone unexpected

Police in Napa County, California, arrested two people suspected of stealing thousands of dollars worth of Christmas trees, and the case quickly drew attention online for an unusual reason: one officer wore a full Santa Claus costume during the official announcement video. The festive touch made the clip go viral almost immediately.

According to Dexerto, the theft occurred at a Safeway store in Santa Fe, California, where more than $2,000 worth of Christmas trees and wreaths were taken at the end of November. Napa County officers launched an investigation soon after the incident and were able to apprehend the suspects.

The two people arrested were identified as Kayla Daniels, 29, and Joshua Gonzales, 39, both residents of Vallejo. Officers served a search and arrest warrant at their Vallejo home on a Thursday afternoon, taking the suspects into custody.

The police recovered every stolen tree and wreath

Officers found all the stolen Christmas trees and wreaths during the search. Everything was returned to the Safeway store right away. This meant families could still buy them for the holidays. Theft cases like this show how confronting thieves can lead to justice.

Daniels and Gonzales were arrested and taken to the Napa County Department of Corrections. They face charges of Grand Theft and Conspiracy to Commit a Crime. Stealing more than $2,000 worth of goods is considered a serious crime.

The police department posted the arrest announcement on Instagram with a special video. An officer wore a full Santa Claus costume in the video. The Santa-dressed officer stood with his arms out and his weapon holstered, acting out the arrest. The video played the song You’re a mean one, Mr Grinch in the background. While these thieves targeted Christmas trees, criminals have been known to steal unusual items from homes.

“Through follow-up investigation, officers identified the suspects as Vallejo residents 29-year-old Kayla Daniels and 39-year-old Joshua Gonzales. On Thursday afternoon, American Canyon officers served a search and arrest warrant at their Vallejo residence. During the operation, officers recovered all of the stolen trees and wreaths,” the statement read.

The Napa County police department recovered all the stolen items, charged the suspects, and created a viral video all at once. The message was clear: don’t try to steal Christmas in Northern California.