A department store Santa turned into a crimefighter when he apprehended two shoplifters.

Santa Claus Dieter Thurn, 52, was in his place in a department store in Bremen when he spotted two people, aged 20 and 23, putting expensive cosmetics in their sacks.

Witnessing the incident, Daniel Ingeborg, six, who was with his mother, told media: "Santa's so cool. He gives presents and fights crime. He's like Superman but better."