Photo: Stock Image
By F. Scott Faulkner
Santa Barbara, CA
In a holiday crime reminiscent of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Matthew Johnson, a 43-year-old Santa Barbara
man was arrested this week for stealing Christmas trees and wreaths from a local nursery.
On December 11 deputies from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrested 43-year-old
at his home following an investigation into the theft of multiple Christmas
trees and wreaths. The trees, various holiday decorations, and several wreaths—bearing record
high price tags this holiday season—were discovered missing two days earlier by the staff at La
Sumida Nursery.
According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Raquel Zick,
deputies—after reviewing the nursery’s video surveillance records—identified and “located
Johnson at his residence where they recovered one of the stolen Christmas trees along with two
wreaths.” The traditional Christmas décor items were returned to the nursery, a well-known
source of quality seasonal flora. “Deputies worked quickly to ensure the stolen items were
returned in time for the holidays,” said Zick.
Johnson was booked into the Santa Barbara County Main Jail on charges of burglary. He remains
in custody with his bail set at $20,000.
