The illegal felling of three poplar trees in Matapihi Rd remains a mystery, but one local lauded the move, saying residents had complained to the council to get rid of them, mainly for health reasons.
The trees, each about 20m tall, were illegally chopped down with a chainsaw at the end of Matapihi Rd overnight on Thursday.
Tauranga City Council spokesman Marcel Currin said the illegal felling had been referred to police.
When the Bay of Plenty Times visited the site yesterday, a neighbouring resident, whose fence was damaged, said he did not know who was responsible.
"I was bit shocked - the council arborist told me the trees were at least 30 years old," said the man, who refused to be named.