NSW Grinch kidnaps Santa from home

A thief is sure to be left off the "nice list" this Christmas after stealing a giant, inflatable Santa Claus from a yuletide display outside a house on the NSW mid-north coast.

The Grinch plucked the inflatable victim from the elaborate Christmas display outside a Port Macquarie home on Sunday night, police said.

After a brief struggle, CCTV footage shows the brazen thief dashing and prancing away on foot with Father Christmas under his arm.

Officers "are keen to get their Claus on this alleged Grinch", a post on the NSW Police Facebook said on Tuesday.

Police have released footage of the blow-up and are appealing to the public to help bring Santa home.