On Sunday, December 15, Jefferson County, Alabama deputies set up a traffic safety checkpoint at a local intersection. During their operation, they received an alert about a stolen Nissan Altima in the area. The officers quickly located the sedan as it pulled into a church parking lot.

When police approached, the passenger complied. The driver went a different route – leaving the car and bolting into a nearby wooded area. Unbeknownst to him, a retired deputy named Larry Williams, who was dressed as Santa Claus for a church event, noticed the commotion.

Williams observed the suspect attempting to sneak back toward the church, presumably to blend in with the crowd. “Santa” went over and detained the suspect, and then escorted him across the street to awaiting deputies.

“We need all the help we can get. Thank you, Santa, for the assist!” said Sheriff Mark Pettway in a Facebook post.

The suspect, an 18-year-old male, faces a couple of charges as a result of the Altima theft and the pursuit. For one, “receiving stolen property in the first degree,” a Class B felony in Alabama. Sources say the charge carries a potential prison sentence ranging from two to 20 years and fines of up to $30,000.

Additionally, authorities charged him with “attempting to elude a police officer,” a Class A misdemeanor that can result in up to one year in county jail and a maximum fine of $6,000.

The Nissan Altima is one of the most frequently stolen vehicles in the U.S.

Over the past decade, nearly 113,000 Altimas have been reported stolen, making it a common target for thieves.