Callous thieves broke into a Scots garden centre before fleeing with up to £1,000 worth of Christmas trees.
The gang raided New Hopetoun Gardens in Broxburn, West Lothian, on Thursday night, stealing between 60 and 70 conifers.
Cops are now investigating while business bosses warned festive shoppers to be on the look-out for knock-off trees being sold from 'pop-up stalls' or from the 'back of a van.'
New Hopetoun Gardens plant area manager Claire Brown said: "It's really horrible because obviously it's been a tough year.
"We're in tier four in West Lothian which means the tearoom is closed again.
"This business is purely employee-owned after we bought it last year - we're not a big faceless organisation.
"It was upsetting and felt like a kick in the teeth but we've had some lovely responses from customers."
The thieves are thought to have used a truck to transport the nicked trees while police appealed for witnesses to come forward.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Police are making enquiries following a report of a housebreaking at a garden centre in Whitequarries Industrial Estate in Broxburn.
"The incident occurred overnight between Thursday, 26 November, and Friday, 27 November.
"Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland through 101, quoting incident number 0581 of Friday 27 November, 2020."
