tree and three with a copter

So why are the news shows making a hero out of a common thief. In California a man takes his three children into federal lands to STEAL a Christmas tree and they get caught is a storm and are lost three days. After dozens of law enforcement and a search party including multiple helicopter's they are found OK with some frostbite. Then today a news reporter ask if he would do it again. He said they would again next year. Are California residence that retarded they just go and cut trees down on federal property and think is OK because its a Christmas tree. Or maybe they know it wrong and that is why they hike 2 miles in before cutting a tree down.