A SENSELESS theft has left milkbar owners Kathy and Graeme Wood a little short of the spirit of Christmas.The couple have owned the Black Hill Post Office and milkbar on Peel St Nth for the past three years.Getting into the Christmas spirit, they installed a three-metre-high, inflatable Santa on the shop's verandah.But yesterday morning they found that the jolly character had been stolen - ripped from the base it was screwed to.Mrs Wood said security footage shows three boys climbing onto the roof and throwing down the Santa about 2.40am yesterday morning."They had to cut the ropes, rip him off the base that he was screwed onto, and they've actually broken the low-voltage wire that goes through the roof," Mr Wood said."It's got a pump installed it in and requires continuous air to go through it because the seams are open."It's useless to them."The store is one of the few remaining family-run milk bars in Ballarat, and the Woods pride themselves on knowing the local community who frequent their store.Mrs Wood said they were surprised at how angrily their customers had responded to the theft."It's a pity. It's not the fact you lose Santa, it's the spirit of Christmas," Mr Wood said."And why would they do it? There's so many kids and oldies that enjoy it."The large inflatable Santa had been purchased in Melbourne and Mr Wood said it was too late to order a replacement."We might put up a star or something," he said.The pair hope the youths are caught and made responsible for their actions."In the scheme of things it's not big, but you don't want them to get away with it," Mr Wood said."But we won't let them deter us, next year we'll still do something," Mrs Wood agreed.Anyone with information can contact the Ballarat Police on 5336 6000 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.