ILLI. (TNND) — He’s a mean guy… He’s a… real guy? It seems the holiday spirit was too much for one true green troublemaker. A man in Illinois made headlines after he dressed up as the infamous holiday troublemaker “The Grinch” and attempted to steal the town of Aurora’s Christmas tree.

Late Friday evening, Aurora Police received several calls reporting a suspicious green figure attempting to steal the City of Aurora’s Christmas tree. Responding officers arrived and the suspect attempted to flee on foot.

Our officers arrived just in time to capture the Grinch,” said Aurora Police Chief Keith Cross. “He put up quite a fight, claiming he ‘just borrowed’ the tree to ‘spread a bit of anti-holiday sentiment.’ We didn’t buy it.”

After a chase through the streets of the city center, police caught the man and took him into custody. In this real story, it wasn’t his heart growing three sizes, but rather the list of his charges.

The suspect, who has yet to be named, faces charges of theft, criminal damage to government-supported property, resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer.

The Grinch is currently being held at the Aurora City Detention Center awaiting a court appearance.

“If you see something suspicious — like a man dressed in green, red — say something,” Aurora police said in a statement.