Crime & Safety
Downtown Benicia Christmas Tree Stripped of Lights
City won't repair damage as tree to be taken down next week.
The lights on perhaps the most important tree of the holiday season in Benicia won't be back until next year.
A city worker found the downtown Benicia Christmas tree stripped of 10 strands of lights Friday morning, according to a press release from .
"This is the only time in the history of this tree that this has happened," Benicia Police Lt. Mike Daley said in the press release. "We're hoping someone comes forward to help us solve this crime."
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Daley said the lights were taken between 5 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 a.m. Friday. On a post on Benicia Patch's Facebook page, Kim Cooper said she noticed half the lights out on the tree around 6 p.m. Thursday night. A video from YouTube user admann shows the tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 2 and the tree fully lit.
Because the tree will be taken down next week and the equipment needed to make the fixes is not available, repairs will not be made.
Find out what's happening in Beniciawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Benicia Police at 707-745-3412 or Solano Crime Stoppers at 707-644-7867.
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