Someone took the giving tree at the Limerick Supermarket on Route 11 Friday night.

Assistant Store manager Esther Weymouth said the theft was captured on film by a surveillance camera at about 11:30 p.m. when a young man backed up to the tree in a light-colored late-model SUV that had a missing tail light and carried a passenger.

“He threw it up on his car and drove off,” said Weymouth.

The giving tree is a tradition at the store. The staff places a fir decorated with names and gift requests from needy children in Limerick, Newfield and Parsonfield. Donors take a name tag and buy the gift, which is distributed to the child.

“If you needed a tree fine, but we need the tags so we can fill the wishes of those kids, “ said Weymouth.

The York County Sheriff’s department is investigating. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the store at 793-4335.