MAYSVILLE, Ky. (WKRC) – Police are searching for a group of tree thieves that swiped a few valuable black walnut trees from a local farm in Maysville, Kentucky.
Maysville Police Lt. Paul Mellankamp says there was a report of people stealing trees from a farm off of US 68 earlier this month, on March 11.
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Caption: Police investigating after valuable trees stolen from a local farm (WKRC)
“We went back there, it just looked like vehicle trails. Obviously, they just took chainsaws and cut these big trees down and loaded them up and hauled them out,” said Mellenkamp.
Local 12 talked to the owner of the farm, David Cartmell. Cartmell is also a commissioner with the city of Maysville.
“It’s happened to many people, but right now it’s worse than ever, because the price of walnut is so high,” said Cartmell.
Cartmell said he’s found a dozen trees cut down in the back of his farm. His nephew broke the news to him last week, while he was setting up trail cams for deer hunting.
“He said, ‘Uncle David, those trees you had cut down, they left the tops on my trail, so I can’t put up my cameras,’ and I said, ‘I wish you would’ve put the cameras last week, at least we would’ve had an idea,'” Cartmell said.
Cartmell said the trees are worth about $30,000. Cartmell says money is one thing, but his sense of security is another.
“When I see a small trailer with a log on it, I kind of get the license plate number because it’s just what it comes to,” said Cartmell.
Police said they have multiple leads and the crime isn’t being taken lightly. Mellenkamp said the crime is a felony offense.
“They are trespassing on someone’s land taking something that’s not theirs, so it is theft.” said Mellenkamp.
Cartmell is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
If you have any knowledge of this crime, you can call Crimestoppers at 513-352-3040.