A gun toting Santa, but not the same one accused of robbing an Alberta jewelry store. Photo by Rob Hyrons/Shutterstock.com

STETTLER, Alberta, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Police in Alberta are searching for a Grinch-in-Santa's-clothing who robbed a jewelry store on Christmas Eve while dressed as St. Nick.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the man in full Santa Claus apparel walked into Ware's Jewelry in Stettler on Christmas Eve and robbed the clerk at gunpoint.


The Bad Santa fled in a Hummer with precious metals and stones from the store, the police report said.

Police said the not-so-saintly Nick abandoned the black 2005 Hummer H2 sometimes after the incident and was found Dec. 28 in a residential neighborhood.

Surveillance footage from the area spotted the suspect leaving in a second sleigh substitute, an older-model pickup truck.