BOSTON — It was almost the year without a Santa Claus after a brazen trio stole St. Nick from a Savin Hill liquor store.
The theft happened just a few days before Christmas, too.
“I don’t know if there was a motive or just them being silly men,” Savin Hill Wine and Spirits owner Karen Diep said.
Diep said this Santa is special though, and the thieves certainly aren’t in the Christmas spirit.
“To me that Santa has sentimental value because it was the first Santa I bought my son for a home decoration,” she said.
Recently, Santa has stood watch at the front door and Sunday night when he was stolen all three employees were out back helping.
Surveillance video shows it all. One guy stakes out the place, then the Santa thieves jump into action. Two with ugly sweaters stand watch while a guy wearing what appears to be a Red Sox jersey picks Santa up and strolls out.
Tuesday night the thief returned Santa to Diep, apologized, and said he was drunk at the time he stole it.