Christmas elf abducted by thieves from garden centre (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Christmas elf abducted by thieves from Wallington garden centre

2:30pm Wednesday 14th December 2011 in Video By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter

One of Santa’s elves has been stolen from a charity Christmas display.

Chippy the charity christmas elf usually greets customers in the entrance to the Woodcote Green garden centre, Wallington along with his friend and fellow elf Rusty.

Manager Phil Barnden said: “His mate [Rusty] is sad; in fact we are all upset. A lot of the attractions we do for local charities and Rusty has been left all on his own.

“We want him back greeting kids on the way in; Santa’s also concerned about his elf.”

He is described as 2ft high with a pink face. He disappeared on Tuesday, December 6 at around 6.45pm and was last seen wearing a green woolly hat and a waistcoat.

The garden centre's CCTV appears to show a group of women unplugging the elf and taking him away.

One woman is described as about 5ft 6in tall, aged 25-30, with long black hair in a ponytail and wearing a black tracksuit.

There is also a teenage girl in a stripey black and white t-shirt and a woman who appears to be in her 70s and in a wheelchair.

If you have any information that could help police with their enquiries, please contact Sutton Police Station on 101. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.