Bonsai theft from a long time ago

[rockm]

I ran across this article in a web search. It happened around the time I started doing bonsai. Funny story. Someone either hated the cheap pot it was in, or just wanted the pot...Strange

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1991/07/21/bonsai-thief-turns-over-a-new-leaf/6b997af5-2323-4917-aac0-5ce6e75bec3c/

It followed another theft of a very valuable Black Pine which was also returned. That theft was "solved" with plain old detective work from the D.C.P.D. The detective hit up neighborhood sources to pressure teh thief to return the tree. They did. Turned out to be a teenger who had stolen the tree to impress his girlfriend. The tree was unharmed.

 

[ShadyStump]

This sounds like the sort of prank I would play. Steal a tree just to repot it.
Somewhere whoever did it has a trophy with his own Chinese elm in it.

 

[berzerkules]

Wait, ladies are impressed when presented with stolen trees. That must be why my wife isn't pleased when I show her my new trees that were acquired legitimately.

 

[TinyArt]

This sounds like the sort of prank I would play. Steal a tree just to repot it.
Somewhere whoever did it has a trophy with his own Chinese elm in it.

I'll remember never to hold your beer.

 

[just.wing.it]

I'm putting on my Colombo hat and saying....
Obviously a volunteer/employee at the Arboretum.

 

[Agriff]

This sounds like the sort of prank I would play. Steal a tree just to repot it.
Somewhere whoever did it has a trophy with his own Chinese elm in it.

My first thought too: this person just wanted to show off the fact that they could do it. A ballsy thief got into bonsai and thought the pot would be a good souvenir