Grinch pays early call on Westport Christmas tree seller

Westport police have arrested a Dartmouth man on charges that he stole around $9,000 in cash and checks from a Westport Christmas tree seller.

Guy Cleaves, 50, of 20 Emerald Drive was charged Friday morning after police say he stole cash and checks from a Christmas tree business located at the intersection of American Legion Highway and Beeden Road.

The theft was first reported to Westport Police Officer Michael Jacques immediately after it is alleged to have taken place on December 8. Officer Jacques worked closely with Detective Ryan Nickelson who arrested Mr. Cleaves at his relative’s residence in Fairhaven. Fairhaven and Dartmouth Police assisted Westport investigators in making this arrest.

Detective Jeff Majewski said that Mr. Cleaves “was” friends with the tree seller, Jeremy Holden. Mr. Cleaves told Mr. Holden that he had been drinking and wanted to rest inside a camper on the business property which was being used as an office. The business owner told police that he saw his safe inside the camper just prior to Mr. Cleaves going inside but immediately after Mr. Cleaves left the camper the safe was missing. No one else entered the camper during that time, the detective said.

A short while after the theft of the safe, a personal check made out to the business owner for a Christmas tree was located alongside Tucker Road in Dartmouth. The small safe and other related items were also later recovered just off the road which “lead a trail like breadcrumbs along the edge of the road in the general direction of Mr. Cleaves’ residence,” the detective said.

Investigators who called Mr. Cleaves by phone said he swore at them and denied taking the items. Detective Majewski said that, before the theft, the business owner had offered to loan his friend (Mr. Cleaves) money because Mr. Cleaves told him he was struggling financially.

The business owner also told police that the theft significantly impacted his business as there was little mark-up and profit to be made on Christmas trees this season. He said he had stayed in business mostly due to it being a holiday tradition at that Westport location.

Police said that there are still approximately 50 missing personal checks tmade out to Mr. Holden for the sale of Christmas trees which have not been recovered. Anyone who finds these items or has any information on the theft is asked to contact the Westport Police Detective Division. Mr. Cleaves was charged with larceny over $250.