A 16‑metre city Christmas tree erected outside Szczecin Town Hall vanished overnight as thieves stole colourful decorations, according to police and a video posted by the mayor.
Decorations vanished from Szczecin tree
On Saturday, a new city Christmas tree was illuminated outside Szczecin Town Hall. By Sunday night, several characteristic red‑and‑white ornaments had disappeared from the 16‑metre tree, with others damaged as thieves tried to take them. The incident was reported to the police.
Video surfaces
The mayor, Piotr Krzystek, released a video showing a man lingering near the tree before grabbing at the ornaments. “Some people took the phrase ‘city Christmas tree’ too literally,” Krzystek explained. The mayor said a second attempted theft the following night was also made by the same individual, who was finally caught and the case handed over to police.
Mayor urges caution
Krzystek warned children’s caretakers that activities like planting seedlings on the tree platform or running around the tree are not good ideas. He appealed to citizens to treat the tree as “shared property” and to preserve it for many years.
