A garden centre boss is sleeping beside his Christmas trees to protect them after thieves swiped 300 over two nights.
John Shelmerdine, 60, lost more than £6,000 worth of of trees when crooks struck at Shelmerdine Nurseries on Lees Lane, Mottram St Andrew.
They took 220 trees at the beginning of December and then 80 more two days later from the polythene tunnels they are stored in.
In response, the father-of-two has bought a baseball bat and a £250 caravan and keeps a nightly vigil beside his trees.
He said: “It’s terrible. I was gobsmacked when I came in the morning and saw what had happened. I’ve been here for 30 years and never had one tree stolen and now this.
“But I’m ready for them if they come back.
“To be honest, I feel sorry for whoever did it. If they have to submit so much misery on other people just to make a few quid then things must be really bad for them.”
He thinks the tree raiders brought two vehicles through a neighbouring field and hit the nursery from the back.
He’s persuaded staff to help him keep an eye on the trees – but his night-watching means he’s averaging two hours’ sleep a night.
Mr Shelmerdine, who has a partner Kate Taylor, a beauty therapist, added: “I’m very, very tired. It’s put a big strain on us for Christmas.”
Mr Shelmerdine, who grows about 100 of his own trees annually and gets the rest from suppliers, is a third generation grower who sells a variety of plants.
He added: “My dad is 98 and collapsed last week so I’m visiting him daily in hospital. This couldn’t have happened at a worse time.
“But I would like to thank all my friends who have given me so much support and offers of financial help.”
A police spokesman said: “This is a very unusual incident and the only one of its kind we’ve had this year. Christmas trees are very hard to steal, especially in such large quantities.”
She said enquiries were ongoing.
If you have any information call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
