Christmas Tree Thief Attempts To Escape On Bicycle

By Anna Deem in News on Dec 5, 2009 6:45PM

Phillip Menefee, 48, Portage, was arrested early Friday morning for allegedly stealing a Christmas tree while riding his bike home from a bar. Police were apparently looking for the source of a motor noise near the tree lot at U.S. 6 and Willowcreek Road, when they discovered Menefee balancing a fir tree on the handlebars of his bicycle. His bike had a homemade motor and no lights.

Menefee tried to convince police that he'd bought the tree from the lot. When the police told him it had closed at 1 a.m., he told them he bought it from the Sunset Lounge. Police confirmed that Menefee had been drinking at that bar instead and that it was not selling any Christmas trees. After refusing to take a breath alcohol test, Menefee was arrested for theft and public intoxication. The $40 tree, which still had a tag on it, was returned to its rightful owner. [Chicago Sun-Times]