Richmond Mounties are trying to figure out who illegally pruned an ancient sequoia tree until it was barely recognizable.

The sequoia has been growing on the site for about 200 years, according to the city, but recently its conical silhouette was dramatically altered by a man and his chainsaw.

The tree that towers over Gibbons Drive is owned by the city, and has been valued at between $75,000 and $100,000. Last year the land's developer applied to have it removed, but because of its age, the city ruled that the evergreen giant must be kept intact.

Despite the ruling, neighbours noticed that branches started to disappear in the spring. After a few months of mysterious pruning, the tree was almost unrecognizable.

"It was really mature and majestic, and just a stunning tree in our neighbourhood," area resident Mandy Lichtmann said Wednesday.

"I was just so disheartened to see a huge pile of limbs lying on the ground, with a dumpster in the driveway."

The city stepped in, issuing a fine of $3,000 to the owners of the property. A stop-work order was also posted on the tree, but that didn't stop someone from trying to prune it again two weeks ago.

"The tree has always been protected before the new building went up, and the tree protection notice has been ignored," Lichtmann said.

The damage was severe, with cuts so deep that the city had to send in a crew to cut the top off for safety reasons.

Richmond City Coun. Bill McNulty said he'd seen a man in the nearly bare tree with a power saw one day, and told him he had to stop cutting.

"I asked him what the hell he was doing up there, to be quite frank with you" McNulty said.

"I said, 'Stop what you're doing. This is city property.'"

The man took off in a taxi, so McNulty told bylaw officers about the incident, hoping police will catch the culprit and lay another, steeper fine.

"Ultimately, it's willful damage. I mean, it's a criminal act as far as I'm concerned."

The maximum fine for breaking the bylaw is $10,000. In addition to the fine, a person convicted may be forced to pay the costs of the investigation and trial, and compensate the city for any damage or loss sustained.

RCMP officers have since been called in to investigate.

CTV News tried to contact the property owner, but phone calls were unanswered. The home on the property is listed for sale at $3.6 million.

Lichtmann said she doesn't think a $3,000 fine is enough to deter the land's developers, who stand to make millions off the sale of the home.

"It makes me really, really angry to see that. I don't know why some people think they're above the law," she said.

"I'd like to see the fines increase significantly so it does stop these people from breaking the law...It's just sad."