Thieves across the country are targeting trees in the latest crime wave to hit the American people and environment.

These dastardly criminals are illegally cutting down valuable trees for timber, often targeting elderly property owners. The problem is becoming a serious environmental issue and an increasingly common problem for landowners. Thieves can make thousands of dollars by cutting down just a few trees, while they’re highly unlikely to face criminal charges if they’re caught. Most prosecutors consider the crime a property dispute to be settled by civil courts.

At least one state is trying to change all that. After a rash of timber thefts in the state, Kentucky has introduced legislation to make cutting down another person’s tree a felony punishable by one to five years in prison.

Another bill will also attempt to take away a typical defence for illegal loggers, who…

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Tags: Kentucky, theft, tree, tree theft