I thought this might be of interest to people in this group. I quoted the first couple of paragraphs; more information at the link below.
--- start quote --- Kentucky Cracks Down on Tree Thieves
Thieves across the country are targeting trees in the latest crime wave to hit the American people and environment.
These dastardly criminals are illegally cutting down valuable trees for timber, often targeting elderly property owners. The problem is becoming a serious environmental issue and an increasingly common problem for landowners. Thieves can make thousands of dollars by cutting down just a few trees, while they're highly unlikely to face criminal charges if they're caught. Most prosecutors consider the crime a property dispute to be settled by civil courts.
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