$10,000 Worth Of Trees Stolen From Suffolk County Nursery

HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- They took eight years to grow, but just a couple hours to steal.

Police are trying to figure out who pilfered roughly 100 trees from a nursery in Suffolk County, CBS2's John Dias reported Monday.

At some point over the weekend, thieves broke through the fence at Cheap Sam's in Holtsville and used a pick-up truck or another large vehicle to rob the establishment of $10,000 worth of Thuja Emerald Green Trees, Dias reported. They left just four behind.

Manager Santiago Rivera says the thieves cut a hole through their fence and backed up a large truck, driving right onto and through their property. Workers believe they scoped out the area before.

"Maybe they have a big job or something and sell them to somebody," Rivera said.

Office Manager Frank Bottone says the thieves hurt their bottom line while business was already struggling.

"They came and took them probably at the worst time," he said. "We had a rough go at it. The spring to begin with, it's been cold."

Workers say the family-owned garden center has been victimized by crime in the past, but this was the largest heist yet.

"Spotty theft, few trees here and there, people like to take things," Bottone said. "But nothing to this scale ever."

They're now offering up a $1,000 reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest.