MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Police who were stumped by the theft of a rare pine tree in November from the University of Wisconsin Arboretum say they have cracked the case.
UW-Madison police said Friday that three 19-year-old university students stole the tree as a “pledge” activity for the Chi Phi fraternity, which hasn’t been recognized as an official student organization since 2015. Police say they acted on a tip.
The three admitted to purchasing a chainsaw, renting a U-Haul and stealing the 25-foot Algonquin Pillar Swiss Mountain pine. Each of them was cited for removing the tree, which is punishable by a $200 fine.
Our partners at WISC-TV say each student was fined $200.50. The tree was worth approximately $13,000.