Brazen theft of popular singing Santa beloved by children for over 20 years provokes outrage in Navan
CCTV footage of the brazen theft has been viewed over 500,000 times
A butcher's shop has been inundated with support after the theft of their Santa Claus, who has been visited by children over the last twenty years.
Parents who once visited the pint-sized singing Santa and are now bringing their own children to him have expressed their horror over the theft. Footage of the incident has now been viewed on social media over 500,000 times.
The little Santa was brazenly unplugged and taken from the front of the store of Gleeson's Butchers in Navan Town Centre in Co. Meath last Monday.
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Store manager Liam Curtis is now appealing for its prompt return as the model can't be replaced before Christmas because it has sold out in shops.
"We have always had a Santa here at the shop for over 20 years. It's motion sensitive so he starts singing and dancing and saying Ho! Ho! Ho! when anyone comes near him," he says.
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"Children love him and get selfies taken on a daily basis and he is a particularly huge hit with children with special needs."
The original Santa was so loved by one child with special needs that Liam decided to give him the Santa and get a new, similar model this year.
"We just thought it was the right thing to do and the parents were so thankful so we bought a newer version of the same model a few weeks ago and popped him centre stage here as usual. One lady was caught on CCTV camera unplugging Santa and carrying him away and we are appealing to her to return him or drop him off somewhere and let us know where he is.
"Unfortunately, the shop I bought him in has sold out of the Santas so we can't replace him before Christmas this year, which will break the hearts of a lot of children."
Liam said he has been inundated with messages of support since Santa disappeared.
"One lady has been bringing her grandchildren here every single year and taking pictures of them with Santa as a Christmas tradition. The outpouring of support and love and all the shared stories of how much Santa means to people has been incredible.
"Others have told us how they loved the Santa when they were little and now love seeing their own children's faces light up when they bring them into the shop. Some have even offered to try and replace him with their own Santas."
"It's not about the Santa, it's about the children and how they are missing him," Liam added.
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