Santa hat-wearing man charged after 'stealing wheelchair'

A 39-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly stealing the wheelchair of a man using a toilet in Melbourne’s Federation Square.

Police allege a man wearing a red Santa hat struck up a conversation with the 54-year-old wheelchair user at Flinders Street Station about 11am.

After offering to assist him to use the toilet on Birrarung Mar, the suspect is accused of taking off with the man’s electric wheelchair.

The alleged victim was stranded for an hour before being rescued by a passer-by.

According to police, the wheelchair was later found at the corner of Wellington Parade and Jolimont Road in East Melbourne.

This afternoon detectives arrested and charged the 39-year-old with theft.

He has been bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 25 next year.