A MYSTERY tree vandal is at work in Spearwood, sneaking into a backyard and hacking away at a New Zealand Christmas tree.

Bronnie Halley arrived home from the markets on father’s day to find someone had crept in, distracted German Shepherd Jack with a squeaky toy, and sawn off the branches with a hedge trimmer.

“It’s really freaky,” she says. “It wasn’t infringing on anyone’s property, it was only in our yard.

“They watched me leave the house… which is the scary thing.”

The cut branches were stacked neatly beside the tree.

• Bronnie Halley with the world’s worst guard dog, Jack, who can be bought off with a squeaky toy, and the sad remains of her tree. Photo by Matthew Dwyer.

“I don’t get it, none of us understand it,” Ms Halley says.

“We live in an awesome neighbourhood. I’ve spoken to all of the neighbours and they were at a loss as well.”

The lopped tree means the kids’ cubbyhouse is now exposed and “looks really dumb”.

She called police hoping they’d fingerprint the gate but, no.

“I was wondering if anyone else in the area has had the same,” she said.

by DAVID BELL