RENO (AP) - Police are searching for vandals who cut down three
large blue spruces in a Reno-area couple's yard.

Washoe County sheriff's deputies say the trees were cut down
sometime late July 3 or early July 4 at the Pembroke Drive property of Jim and Karen Wodke.

The trees were left on the ground.

Karen Wodke says she suspects youths are involved because she
found a beanie-type hat often worn by skateboarders at the scene.

Sheriff's Sgt. Lou Gazes says he's unaware of any similar cases, and the suspects would face destruction of property charges.

The Wodkes say vandals also hacked at a fourth large tree last year, which made it easy for a winter storm to knock it over.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-07-13-08 1937EDT