In your life, you probably never thought you would hear these words together: cactus rustler.

Or another great term: cactus cops.

But in Arizona, the term is actually widely used. It refers to anyone who removes or attempts to remove a protected plant from its natural habitat, specifically the iconic saguaro cactus, without a special permit.

The laws were implemented in order to protect the native species of plants that grow in Arizona, both from people who want to transport the plants for profit and those who just want to maim them for fun.

Many of the plants that are native to Arizona were highly sought after by people around the state and across the country. The prize was the saguaro cactus, one of the most iconic images of the state.

This problem grew to be so common in the state that a special group was formed to handle cactus rustlers.

The need to have someone cracking down on cactus rustlers started in the 1960s as the urban population in Arizona began to shoot up.

In 1969, the black market price for a healthy two-armed saguaro was $85. Today that price has blown up to $35 per foot and $100 per arm.

If the cacti are shipped out of state, the price goes even higher. Thieves can uproot a 30-foot cactus in 15 minutes and take off with it on their flatbed truck. That’s at least $1,000 of profit.

Today, the laws protecting the native plants make the act of stealing them a class four felony. This can carry a sentence of one to 3.75 years.

Being a class four felony puts cactus rustling on the same level as arson, credit card forgery, negligent homicide, kidnapping and prostituting a minor. The laws became stricter in 1991. Previously, cactus rustling was considered a class two misdemeanor and only carried a maximum fine of $5,000.

The price for an average 15-foot saguaro cactus is about $640. The “cactus cops” have recovered saguaros that were illegally uprooted with values as high as $15,000 and have found them being shipped as far away as Kansas.

In one instance, officers were given information that men were spotted on state property near Tucson pulling up saguaros. When the officers arrived at the crime scene, they found the remains of the cactus’ roots. The vehicle being used by the thieves was traced back to a local nursery.

There was no sign of the cacti at the nursery, however, so the bank records of the nursery were subpoenaed. It was discovered that two checks were deposited in the account on the same day as the theft and tracked down to two homeowners in the Valley.

An inspection found that a newly planted saguaro was at each residence. Samples from the plants were taken and matched up to the remaining roots from the desert. The nursery was fined for the theft.

In the 1970s and 80s, the special commission of cactus cops was at its peak, making 90 to 100 busts each year, including one incident of a federal official who had stolen a plant.

In 1990, 19 people were arrested and convicted of cactus rustling with a theft of nearly 152 saguaros. They were charged on a federal level for interstate plant trafficking, which holds a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

John Yates was the leader of one group of cactus rustlers. He was sentenced to 46 months in jail and had to pay $64,000 in restitution.

The days of cactus cops have ended. Budget limits have led to the positions being cut, but there are still laws protecting the endangered plant species of Arizona and those who are caught still face the penalties that come with it.