A GARDEN centre has pleaded for the return of a giant decorative Santa Claus after a thief brazenly walked out of the store with it in a trolley.
Staff want to be reunited with 'Gracie the Gonk' after a man was captured putting it into a trolley and walking out of St Peter's Garden Centre without paying.
CCTV captured the moment the giant decoration was stolen on Tuesday (December 13) at 1.09pm.
The Christmas decoration is on display at the garden centre with another 'gonk' known as Gordon and the staff jokingly refer to them as a couple.
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A spokesperson for the garden centre said: "One of our beloved gonks has been stolen.
"We’re worried about her welfare, especially with these temperatures, and her twin Gordon is desperately wanting her back.
"We’re asking people to share this far and wide because all at St Peter's Garden Centre are heartbroken and hope Gracie is safe.
"The reward is a big hug from Gordon and Gracie Gonk."
West Mercia Police confirmed the theft had been reported to them earlier today (Thursday).
A spokesperson said: "At 12.10pm this afternoon a theft from St Peters Garden Centre was reported to us.
"It’s believed the theft took place around 1pm on Tuesday, December 13."
They have asked people to contact officers if they have any information about the theft.
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Gonks have become widely popular Christmas gifts throughout the UK and beyond in recent years.
According to the online retailer Gonks Gonks Gonks, the decorative characters are inspired by the gnomes and hobgoblins found in Scandinavian and Nordic mythology and are often thought to be a Nordic version of Santa Claus.
St Peters Garden Centre is a family-run garden centre selling plants, indoor and outdoor goods, gardening equipment, garden furniture and BBQs.
Every year, the garden centre stocks a wide variety of Christmas decorations and gifts, and also hosts a variety of Christmas-themed events such as a 'Light Trail and Santa Experience and a "Create Your Own Christmas Centre Piece' event.
The garden centre also has a butcher, a farm shop and a restaurant on site.
Anyone with information about the theft can contact West Mercia Police by calling 101 or by using the Tell US About form on the website: https://www.westmercia.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/.
Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or by visiting https://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
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