Two men were arrested early Saturday morning after an officer caught them trying to steal ornaments off the Capitol Christmas tree, according to authorities.
It was not clear whether the hearts of these Grinches were two sizes too small. But they did break several of the ornaments they allegedly were trying to snag - some of them made by special education students.
A California Highway Patrol officer passing by the 48-foot tree, located on the west end of the Capitol, pulled over about 2 a.m. when he noticed the branches moving, said Officer Sean Kennedy, a CHP spokesman.
He then saw two men apparently trying to steal ornaments off the tree - until the suspects saw the officer, and "dropped them and tried to act like they weren't theirs," Kennedy said.
The officer arrested 30-year-old Marquies Alexis and 32-year-old Bruce Anderson IV on suspicion of petty theft and vandalism, because some of the ornaments broke, Kennedy said. Anderson also faces a charge of resisting arrest because he ignored the officer's commands, Kennedy said.
Two other people were with Alexis and Anderson but were not arrested because they were not taking part in the crime, Kennedy said.
He said it appears the four were walking through Capitol Park to their cars when Alexis and Anderson "had a bad idea en route."
He wasn't sure if the arresting officer lectured the Grinches, but Kennedy noted that some time at the Sacramento County Main Jail likely did the trick.
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