Someone (or some people) has an axe to grind with Christmas trees on boulevard Saint-Laurent. According to a December 8 post by the Société de développement du boulevard Saint-Laurent (SDBSL), seven trees have been stolen from the street in the last two weeks.
The trees, paid for by local shop owners, were installed along the boulevard "to bring a little bit of sweetness and magic to Christmas during these difficult times," the SDBSL wrote.
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We wish you all a happy holiday season and thank you for your support of the Main's businesses and companies.
Société de développement du boulevard Saint-Laurent (SDBSL)
Photos accompanying the Facebook post appear to show the empty spots where two trees once stood: one ripped from its box and another cut off from the base, leaving only a few straggly branches — like a scene from How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Other installations also line the street between rue Sherbrooke and avenue Laurier to attract shoppers.
The SDBSL wrote that it "[hopes] that the remaining facilities will make your shopping experience enjoyable."
SDBSL Director Tasha Morizio told MTL Blog that there haven't been any thefts since the December 8 Facebook post, but the stolen trees will not be replaced out of fear they will just disappear again.
"Instead," she said, "we decided to ask the public to help us find the thieves we have labelled 'The Grinches of the Boulevard.'"
Posters put up in the neighbourhood ask anyone who catches the Grinch to "contact Santa immediately."