IT seems Santa kicked off his boots and flew back to the North Pole last Friday, leaving his position on the side of the New England Hwy vacant - either that or someone stole Santa.

If you have driven south lately, chances are you would have noticed the fat man in red perched up on a rock on the side of the road, spreading cheer to all who drove by.

But now, just his boots and a few kangaroos remain; thanks to thieves.

Owner of the display Gerard Wren said he noticed Santa was missing on Friday afternoon.

"He was there this morning when I went to work at about 8am," Mr Wren said.

Passers by said they last saw Santa around lunch time, meaning his time of departure would have been between then and around 3.30pm.

The Wrens have decorated the Christmas display for two years and said the support for it was phenomenal.

"Someone who drove past the other day stopped and put an empty beer bottle in his hand and thought he might have liked a beer," Mr Wren said.

"We've had cards left here, and Reg Lindsay's daughter left a card and she said 'what a novel idea, I'm going to write a song about these roos'.

"People from all over stop when they pass through and we had a book of poetry left one time. It said look at the poem on page such and such and it was a poem about a roo to a farmer.

"Some people say it's a highlight of their trip through here and I know some people are even using it (photos of the display) as their Christmas card," he said.

Mr Wren said it was disappointing to know people would have to steal some happiness out of Christmas.

"If it gets returned it will make people who drive past happier - and his owner of course," Mr Wren said.

Passers by Frank and Christine Copine said they were utterly disgusted anyone would steal Santa.

"It's disappointing, you'd expect this sort of thing in the city," Mr Copine said.

The pair had stopped to take a photo of the display they had seen earlier that morning while travelling through.

"That's sad that, real sad. It's sad people would take something like that," Mr Copine said.

Mrs Copine thanked Mr Wren and said it was the little things like this display that reminded people what Christmas was all about.

"You've made a lot of people happy this Christmas," Mrs Copine said.

"And you made us happy every time we drove past.

"I sure hope they needed it and it wasn't just for a dare," she said.

WHERE IS HE?

If you have seen Santa, call the Daily News on 4660 1364.