Santa and his elf came a little early this year! A shopping center and car owner in Riverside, California, are currently praising the duo for stopping an attempting carjacking.
According to the police department’s Facebook page, the two undercover officers — one actually was a detective — were posted outside of the shopping center when they received word on three men trying to steal a white Honda CR-V nearby.
Two of the unidentified suspects tried to run.
“Get him Santa” can be heard in the video recorded incident.
The video on Youtube shows the “officer in the elf costume ordered one of the suspects to get on his knees at gunpoint,” People reported. “Behind them, the officer dressed as Santa can be seen rushing to apprehend the second suspect who was resisting arrest.”
The third suspect was able to escape authorities by driving off in the white Honda. The car was later found abandoned, but authorities have identified the man and have plans to arrest him in the future.
One of the two suspects initially arrested has already been released. According to People, “the other was arrested for possession of illegal drugs and resisting arrest” and has yet to be released.
The police officer and detective were undercover as part of the police department’s holiday enforcement program called “Santa’s Intervention” program. The program targets retail theft during the holiday season.
