Muggers escape police by dressing up as Father Christmas

Neil Brown, 32, had money snatched out of his hand by the pair of festive thieves as he stood at a cash machine.

He gave chase after the pair but when he ran around a corner he was stunned to be confronted with a whole group of Father Christmases.

Unable to pick out which Santas stole his money, Mr Brown called police.

A short while later the same pair tried to rob another woman in exactly the same bizarre way.

She too was left confused when confronted with a stream of Santas walking around in the street.

Police are now hunting the men but their only description is that they were wearing red coats and hoods with a white fur trim, red trousers and large black boots.

Officers believe the two assailants had been on a night out with a group of friends who had all dressed as Father Christmas.

The incidents happened while both victims were stood at a cash machines in Weymouth, Dorset, at around 2am.

Mr Brown said: "I took out 50 pounds out and when I turned around a man dressed as Santa grabbed it out of my hand.

"Another Santa gave me a shove and they both ran off laughing.

"I was quite shocked and for a second I thought it was someone I knew.

"I ran after them but they had got a good start and I lost them in the back streets.

"Suddenly there were so many people dressed up as Santa around me that it was hard to pick them out.

"The police asked for a description but all I could say that it was two Father Christmases, although they were probably young men because they ran very fast.

"They had red trousers on, boots, big coats with hoods and white bits around the edge - the works."

The second victim, a woman who did not want to be identified, was also struck by the thieves in the same way.

Luckily the men did not manage to grab her money and fled empty handed.

But she too was left confused by the large group of Father Christmases milling around following the incident.

A spokesman from Dorset Police said there were too many Santas in the area to identify the thieves.

He said: "I'm quite sure the men were out that night with other people in fancy dress.

"Although others in the party may not have known what these men were up to.

"Unfortunately there were so many Santas out that evening that we couldn't identify which two were responsible.

"There were about five to six in the immediate area but lots of others out in the town celebrating.

"Our only description was that they were wearing Santa suits - there was no distinguishing features which makes it a bit frustrating."

Police are asking for other people who were targeted by the Santas or any witnesses to come forward.