Real-life Grinch steals California family’s Christmas tree that was tied to car

How the Grinch stole one family’s Christmas tree.

A California family had their Christmas tree stolen right off the top of their car in a heartless crime mirroring the plot of the holiday classic.

Jesus and his wife had just purchased a tree in San Mateo Friday evening and left it tied to the roof of their SUV in a parking lot as they did a few errands while out, he told ABC7.

But when the Bay Area couple returned to their car they were shocked to see their Christmas tree vanished.

A real-life Grinch decided to snatch the tree and flee, according to security footage obtained by the local station.

The video shows a white SUV passing Jesus’ car and then backing up and parking in the spot next to it.

A man then steps out of the white SUV and walks over to the couple’s vehicle, where he cuts the ropes tying the tree to the roof of their car one by one, according to the footage.

The Christmas tree rolls off the roof and the man catches it, carries it to the back of his own car and stuffs it in the trunk, the clip shows.

He struggles to close his car’s trunk before finally slamming it shut and driving off, according to the video.

San Mateo Police told ABC7 they will be on the lookout for similar crimes as the holidays approach, but called the tree-snatching a “unique case.”

“There are people with good hearts out there who are more than willing to help out those who can’t afford a tree this time of year,” police added.

The suspect has yet to be identified.

The Christmas tree lot that sold Jesus the stolen tree replaced it with a new one, according to the outlet.