TWO thieves found crime does not pay after being chased through the streets by Santa Claus.

Delivery driver Ashley Moore enjoys bringing festive cheer to his customers by dressing up as Father Christmas.

But he proved there is more to the jolly chap than dropping down chimneys when two teenagers attempted to steal parcels from his van.

The delivery driver, from Edenfield, sprang into action and gave chase.

Mr Moore, aged 35, who owns a franchise of delivery company DPD, was dropping a package to a customer in Durham Drive, Ramsbottom, when he heard his van door close.

“I had parked about 25 metres away because I couldn’t park directly in front of the house I was delivering to,” said Mr Moore.

“I make up to 180 deliveries a day at this time of year, so I know what my door sounds like when it closes.

“I looked back and I saw someone running away, so I got back in the van and chased them.”

Mr Moore said DPD recommends its staff never chase after thieves, but his previous career came in handy and he is not the type of man to back down.

He added: “I was a bouncer for 12 years and no one’s ripping me off, put it that way.

“I’m 6’1” and, although I’ve lost weight in the gym recently, I’m still a big guy.”

After running into an old lady’s garden, the two fugitives split up.

At this point, two more people who were driving past stopped to help Santa, who was now on foot.

After climbing on to a roof and jumping over garden walls, both the thieves ended up being caught by one of the men who joined in the pursuit.

Police arrived and the two thieves were arrested.

Mr Moore, who makes up to 180 deliveries a day, said: “It’s a great result, and also a great story.

“I’ve spoken to a few people who were watching and they said it’s the funniest thing they’ve ever seen.

“It was like a cross between Benny Hill and Batman and Robin.

“It’s not every day you see someone in a Father Christmas outfit chasing after a thief down the road, is it?”

Thomas Martin Doherty, aged 18, of no fixed abode, and a 15-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, both pleaded guilty to a charges of theft from a vehicle when they appeared at Bury Magistrates’ Court.

Doherty was sentenced to eight weeks in a young offender institute.

The 15 year-old is due to be sentenced at Darlington magistrates’ court tomorrow.