-
This North Island couple had both their daughters' presents stolen on Christmas morning - Source: ONE News
Two young girls had a rude awakening early on Christmas morning in Christchurch when they were stirred not by Santa Claus, but by thieves stealing their newly filled Santa sacks.
The family, from the North Island, were staying at the Meadow Park Holiday camp in Papanui.
The girls, aged four and six, woke about 3am after the burglars took off with their presents and the family car, police said.
Police nearby stopped a 26-year-old man leaving the scene in another vehicle and retrieved the four-year-old's Santa sack and presents.
Officers then managed to track down Santa Claus and made arrangements for another load of freshly wrapped presents for the six-year-old, police said.
Santa was too busy to deliver them unfortunately, police said, so they dropped them off on his behalf to the delight of the family and the girl.
Police are still looking for at least one other person who left in the stolen car, a silver Mazda Familia, registration YN6144, and want to hear from anyone with information.