DOVER - A Grinch swiped the top of a storm-damaged tree near the Westside Fire District Station over the weekend, presumably for use as a Christmas tree.

The spruce tree was among a band of trees separating the fire station and Barn Spur Road at Dover Bay. It was damaged when a severe windstorm augered Bonner County in July.

A thief or thieves who are turned around on the spirit of the season claimed the top of it, according to Dover Councilman Neal Hewitt. The tree is the property of the Dover Bay housing development on the Pend Oreille River.

"It was a nice tree. Somebody's probably got themselves the prettiest Christmas tree in the county," said Hewitt, who's displeased somebody helped themselves to the top of it.

Hewitt suspects somebody mistakenly believed the tree was doomed and figured it was fair game.

"Somebody just came along and cut the top out of it because I guess they figured, 'Well, the tree's laid over and it's going to die anyway,'" said Hewitt.

However, the tree was very much and alive and likely could have been successfully righted.

Hewitt can't help but think there will be some payback for the heist.

"Let's face it, really bad karma is going to come back on these people one of these days, you know?" he said. "You just don't cut the holy tree, so to speak, for the season and expect to have really good luck."