Thieves snatch 40-foot inflatable Santa from family-owned Christmas tree lot

A group of Grinchy thieves managed to snatch a 40-foot-tall and 20-foot-wide inflatable Santa Claus from a family-owned Christmas tree lot in Arizona, according to reports.

The theft occurred sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning at Kraemer’s Tree Lot, which has operated at its Phoenix location during the holiday season for 25 years, according to AZ Family.

Thieves managed to snatch a 40-foot-tall and 20-foot-wide inflatable Santa Claus from a family-owned tree lot in Arizona. Kraemer Street Lot/Instagram

The Hallmark movie-like villains cut into the fence surrounding the tree lot property to access the gigantic inflatable, family member Kyle Kraemer told the outlet.

Marks left behind on the gravel suggested the sky-high Father Christmas was deflated and then dragged out, he added.

“People know it is Santa’s tree lot,” Kraemer said.

“Who steals Santa? I mean, it’s Christmas time,” he added.

The towering St. Nick is a popular holiday photo attraction that has been a part of the family’s Christmas tree farm for over three decades.

The towering Father Christmas is a popular holiday photo attraction that has been with the family-owned Christmas tree farm for over three decades. Kraemer Street Lot/Instagram

“This one hurts. Our giant inflatable Santa was stolen from our tree lot. He’s part of what makes the season special for families who visit us,” Kraemer Tree Lot wrote in a post on Facebook.

“If anyone has info, please reach out—we’d love him back!!”

Questions remain for Kraemer as to how many people were needed to pull off the Santa swiping and what they plan to do with the distinctly large decoration that many community members would recognize from the business.

“It’d take a lot of people. Our four guys — they had trouble putting it up,” he said.

Phoenix police are investigating the incident, the outlet reported.