Heartless thieves stole 70 Christmas trees and pinched specialist equipment from a pop-up festive business in Sale.
Yobs visited Paul's Christmas Trees three times to fill their van with the fir trees, between 10.30pm on Friday night and 1.15am this morning.
They also took two pieces of specialist machinery, worth £2,000 each, which are used to cut the trees into a cone shape so they can fit into a log base.
The business has been trading on Marsland Road, next to Ken Fraser Florist, for the last 35 years and has many regular customers.
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Paul Robinson, business owner, said he does not know how he will be able to operate the pop-up without the machinery.
The machinery, known as a 'Tree Sharpener', has a motor shaft and would only be used at garden centres or other Christmas tree businesses.
CCTV footage shows the thieves returning to the shop to fill their van again within 30 minutes and it is believed they must not have travelled far out of Sale.
Paul, 60, told the M.E.N: "They have taken 70 trees, but the worst part of it is that they have taken machinery worth £2,000 each.
"They first came at 10.30pm, filled a van up three times, and were last seen leaving 1.15am.
"It is the equipment that we need. It puts the tree on a log base, a wooden log.
"It is special equipment that would be of no use to anyone."
He added: "Our business helps pay the rates, it is our good little earner for Christmas.
"We have quiet times, and during Christmas is when we make some money.
"We are lost without the equipment."
The incident was reported to Greater Manchester Police and an investigation has been launched.
Paul's shop is believed to be one of the first pop-up businesses in Greater Manchester.
The pop-up is also one of the first Christmas tree outlets to allow customers to try their trees out at home first before having to pay.
He was forced to shut-up shop on Saturday, but has promised customers the business will be back up and running on Sunday, December 1.
Paul is also offering a £500 reward to anybody who is able to provide any information to help find the thieves and stolen machinery.
Any witnesses or anyone with further information can contact GMP on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting log number 973/November 30.
