A Christmas tree thief made off with an 8-foot-tall evergreen in Kennewick this weekend, leaving the homeowners dismayed about the Grinch-like behavior.

Kalei Grayson and Bryan Garza moved into their new home on Wyoming Street in the Bridgewater Estates near Hansen Park four months ago and were looking forward to their first Christmas there.

The couple went to Leavenworth on Saturday to cut down a tree in the national forest and to attend the Bavarian-themed city's annual tree-lighting festival.

They returned to Kennewick and left the tree covered in a tarp in the back of their Toyota Tacoma pickup in their driveway with the intention of decorating it Sunday.

But the tree was gone when the couple woke up. The thief left the tarp and tie-downs behind.

"We were just appalled because I didn't think people would do that -- steal a Christmas tree," Grayson said.

Grayson and Garza reported the tree heist to Kennewick police. And they bought a tree from a lot Monday.