Christmas trees stolen from a Northwest Fresno lot

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Dozens of Christmas trees were stolen from a Valley lot. And one family is left to suck up the massive loss as they clean up their business.

This is the second time the owner has been ripped off this week. And they think the crooks smashed through the fence with a flatbed truck and made off with as many as 40 trees.

Paulino Ochoa says thieves crashed through his fence and stole more than three dozen Christmas trees from his lot on Shaw and Marty in Northwest Fresno.

For the past decade, Ochoa has traveled from Oregon to Fresno to run the lot. This is the first time he's run into problems like this. He says he's been ripped off twice this week.

"The first time they broke the lock," said Ochoa. "The second time broke the fence."

Tire tracks are left in the dirt near the now repaired fence. And a wood post was also damaged.

Ochoa's daughter Mireyah said, "Yeah, it was a mess. We saw a lot of things missing. We could tell they stole trees."

Between 35 and 40 trees. Some as much as $30 a piece. Ochoa says fixing the fence cost him several hundred dollars. The loss of his trees is much higher.

Ochoa added, "It's probably $1,500.00, right there."

A huge financial loss this family will just have to endure. Ochoa says he grows the trees on a farm in Oregon. They grow only about a foot a year.

"I'm angry and sad," said Ochoa. "It's too much work."

Now Ochoa says he'll be sure to have someone watch the property overnight.

"Yeah, I've got security out here," said Ochoa. "I need to pay more money for the guy, but it's fine."

Ochoa says a witness reported to him -- the thieves were driving a white Chevy flatbed truck. He's hoping security equipment at a neighboring business caught the crime on camera.