Lady’s Island palm tree thief only makes off with the top half

A Lady’s Island tenant called his landlord who then called law enforcement after someone tried to steal a palm tree in the front yard.

The tenant told Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies that an older white man in a green Ford Ranger had a rope tied around the Oakwood Drive tree and was trying to pull it out of the ground shortly after 3 p.m. on Sunday, according to a Sheriff’s Office report.

While the man was attempting to remove the tree, it broke in half, and the driver got out and “appeared to be upset” about it, according to the report. He allegedly picked up the top half of the palm tree and left.

The damage to the tree was valued at an estimated $300, according to the report.

This story was originally published August 14, 2017 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Lady’s Island palm tree thief only makes off with the top half."