Two police officers in Riverside, California, managed to catch a car theft gang after dressing up as Santa and his elf.
Detectives from the Riverside Police Department's Property Crimes Unit conducted a 'holiday enforcement program' on Thursday 10 December, targeting retail theft at a busy shopping centre.
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In a Facebook post detailing the sting, the department said: "For several hours, detectives and officers worked directly with loss prevention specialists at the Target store in the Canyon Springs shopping center.
"Detectives and loss prevention conducted video surveillance inside the store as other detectives and officers remained outside to help detain any theft suspects.
"Of those waiting outside were a detective and officer dressed as Santa Claus and his elf.
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"As the suspects exited the store with merchandise they just stole, Santa and his elf were waiting to take them into custody for the theft."
A total of three arrests were made during the operation, but as it drew to a close, detectives also received information about three suspicious men 'casing vehicles in the shopping center parking lots'.
"One of the undercover detectives spotted these three men as they were in the act of stealing an older white Honda CR-V," Riverside Police explains.
Two of the men clocked the detective and ran off, but were quickly apprehended by the other officers.
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One suspect resisted arrest but was taken into custody with the help of the undercover Santa, while the second was detained by the elf.
The third suspect, who actually stole the Honda, managed to flee before being stopped. The car was found abandoned nearby with the suspected driver nowhere to be seen, but detectives have since identified him and will be making an arrest for car theft in the future.
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Footage of the alleged robbery shows the officer dressed as Santa tackling a suspect to the ground, his elf holding the other at gunpoint.
The person filming can be heard saying in the clip: "Get him Santa."
Of the two suspects detained, one was identified and later released, while the other was arrested for possession of illegal drugs and resisting arrest.
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Speaking to NBC Los Angeles, Detective Paul Miranda - one of several officers working undercover at the store that day - said: "When I looked over my shoulder I saw Santa running by me, going after the second subject."
He continued: "We worked inside the store, identified shoplifters and when they split the scene, Santa was there to take them into custody."
Miranda added: "They [the two suspects] were apologetic and Santa is currently deciding whether they stay on the naughty list."
Featured Image Credit: Riverside Police Department