Mechanical Santa Claus Is Back at Tree Lot

Santa Claus was returned Wednesday to the Hermosa Beach Christmas tree lot he had abruptly disappeared from last week--thanks to a mystery man named Chris and the small beach city’s police department.

The 6-foot-tall mechanized Santa vanished between 10:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 8 a.m. Dec. 4 from Mary Ann Dib’s tree lot on Pacific Coast Highway between 1st and 2nd streets. It had been a fixture on the lot for the last four holiday seasons, waving to passing motorists and playing seasonal music.

Dib, 56, said he had been stolen. About 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Hermosa Beach police got a call from a man named Chris, who lives four blocks from the lot, in the 400 block of Herondo Street, Officer Paul Wolcott said. Chris--whose last name has not been disclosed--said Santa had shown up at his front door at 1:30 a.m. How he got there remains unclear, Wolcott said. Also a mystery are reports that Santa was sighted--headless--Tuesday night behind a Hermosa Beach bar, Wolcott said.

Soon after, Santa was returned to the lot--his head a wee bit wobbly but looking jolly nonetheless. Dib had offered a $100 reward and said she plans to give it to Chris today.

“All during this evening’s rush, people have been saying, ‘Oh, Santa’s back!’ ” Dib said Wednesday night. “The spirit of Christmas rings true in Hermosa Beach.”