Stolen Christmas tree recovered in Greeley

greeley » Greeley police have located two suspects and recovered the Christmas tree stolen early Wednesday fromStuft— A Burger Bar.

“It was impressive,” said Stuft co-owner Jake Fitzsimmons. “They completed the investigation in less than 24 hours. I didn’t expect itwould be that quick.”

The business, at 819 Ninth St., has surveillance cameras that monitor the building, which provided a bird’s-eye view of the theft as it happened. About 2:15 a.m. Wednesday, that cam- era captured two men who hopped Stuft’s patio fence and made off with the tree and decorative presents underneath.

The video was posted on the Greeley Tribune website and the Greeley Police Department’s Facebook page. That video led to information on the possible identity of the suspects, a Greeley police news release stated.

The investigation continued into Wednesday afternoon and evening, and officerswere able to locate one of the alleged suspects in Loveland. The stolen tree was recovered in Evans.

The names of the Christ- mas tree thieves will be released once they receive their summonses to appear in Greeleymunicipal court. Sgt. Joe Tymkowych, spokesman for Greeley police, said both suspects were men in their early 20s. They will be charged with misdemeanors and prosecuted in municipal court because of the value of the tree and the decorations, which Fitzsimmons said was about $90.

Once the personwho provided the tip that led to the tree’s recovery is confirmed, Fitzsimmons said he plans to pay up on the reward of free burgers for a year.