Shocking CCTV footage shows mean-spirited thief nicking Santa's boots

Story and video from SWNS

Shocking CCTV footage showed a meanspirited thief nicking Santa's boots from a homemade effigy outside a pub.

Santa can be seen hanging from a first floor window above the entrance to The Green pub in Haddington, East Lothian, carrying a sack.

But in the early hours of Saturday morning, a thief was caught on camera yanking the boots off and running away - leaving schoolchildren devastated.

Landlord Kurt Edwards branded the vandal 'idiotic' and said he was determined to restore Santa to his full glory.

Dad-of-three Kurt said: "There's always somebody who's got to ruin it.

"We made the Santa suit and hung it up about three weeks ago.

"It survived rain and a bit of snow, then that happened.

"The main reason we did it is because we're on a crossing where the kids go to school and can see it.

"Someone rang me on Saturday morning saying somebody stole Santa's boots.

"I checked the CCTV and saw the idiot do it.

"We've had quite a lot of feedback and kids are upset not seeing Santa hanging out the window.

"We're determined to get him back up.

"We're going to try and get new boots and get him back up this week.

"It's just really annoying.

"A lot of people are angry about it."

The theft happened at 5.30am and parts of the homemade Santa fell to the pavement as the man ran away.

Kurt, who has run the pub for a year-and-a-half, shared CCTV footage on social media to help try and identify the thief.

One social media user said: "That's shocking. My kids love saying 'Santa is still trying to get into The Green' every time we drive past.

"Hope you catch him."

Another added: "Lowlife eejit."