Calgary man?s lawn reindeer beheaded (Pic!)

A residential display of Old St. Nick's sleigh has become a case of Santa-slaying with the jolly Christmas man being thrown off his pedestal amid the carnage of decapitated reindeer.

For the last 14 years, Richard Matchett has lovingly set up the Santa Claus display, which includes nine reindeer, outside his Scenic Acres home.

He even drilled a hole in the nose of Rudolph so he could install a red Christmas bulb.

But yesterday, the grandfather woke up to find vandals had knocked the reindeer heads off and unceremoniously dumped Old St. Nick from his sled.

"One of the reindeers' heads was in the middle of the driveway and Santa was lying on the ground," Matchett said.

"It's very disappointing.


"The monetary value is insignificant," he said, adding police say they can't do much about the case.

"It's not even worth reporting to insurance, but it's more the sentimental value -- the Christmas spirit."

Cops say the case is a sad sign of the times, heralding the start of a season when grinches will steal the Christmas spirit with their criminal ways.

"It's a seasonal, opportunistic crime, either vandalizing Christmas displays or stealing them," said Insp. Keith Pollock.

Police say Santa has now put the vandals on his "naughty list."