This Santa was a grinch.

RCMP say a man dressed in a full Kris Kringle costume walked into Ware's Jewelry store in downtown Stettler, Alta., pulled out a gun, demanded the clerk hand over precious metals and stones, and then fled in a Hummer.

On Christmas Eve, no less.

Now, police have put out a plea for help from the public in locating the suspect.

He is described as a white male, about six feet tall, with blonde hair and acne scarring on his face.

He made off in a black 2005 Hummer H2.

On Dec. 28, RCMP found a Hummer believed to be the getaway vehicle in a residential Stettler neighbourhood.

Video surveillance captured the vehicle pulling into the area and being left behind. Police believe the suspect then got into a second vehicle, an older model pickup truck described as a possible Chevrolet with an extended cab and chrome running boards.

Police believe the suspect - who was, again, dressed as Santa Claus - made off in this older-model pickup truck after ditching his initial getaway vehicle, a Hummer H2. (RCMP)

Stettler RCMP is asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact them directly or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

No word yet on whether Billy Bob Thornton served as inspiration to this bad Santa.