If you are a trained law enforcer, or a trained journalist for that matter, you're not supposed to speculate publicly or in print about the motive of most crimes.

However, any human being with an ounce of imagination has to wonder whether someone was out to get a spectacular Christmas tree when they decided to cut down a 10-foot pine tree from the Geneva Middle School North property just four days before Dec. 25.

Yes, someone removed a pine tree from the campus of Geneva Middle School North, 1357 Viking Drive, sometime prior to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 21, Geneva Police Department reports said. The tree was planted on the northeast corner of the property.

Police said someone used an instrument, likely a saw, to cut the tree down.

The estimated value of the tree was $600.

If you have information on this or any other crime in Geneva, please contact the Geneva Police Department at (630) 232-4736.