NORRIDGEWOCK (AP) — The owner of a Maine Christmas tree farm says customers are taking advantage of his business’ honor system by stealing trees and wreaths.

Todd Murphy, of Trees to Please in Norridgewock, says about $2,000 worth of merchandise has been stolen this season, including about a dozen trees worth $400 over the weekend.

Murphy says he stocked the cut trees at about 5 p.m. Saturday, but when he got in on Sunday morning, they were gone.

Murphy told the Kennebec Journal (http://bit.ly/1qQQqAa ) hundreds of people visit the farm each weekend in the weeks leading up to Christmas, and sometimes they don’t pay.

If people continue to steal, he said he will have no option but to raise prices.

He has notified police about the latest theft.


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