A MAN and a woman captured on security cameras stealing a Christmas tree from a garage have been told to pay compensation or risk being shopped to the police.

Staff at the Winner Garage in Cinderford’s Forest Vale Industrial Estate arrived at work to find the Christmas tree had gone missing overnight at the weekend.

And when they reviewed the CCTV, they were stunned to see a couple pull up in a Land Rover Freelander and steal the tree.

The car number plate was visible on the footage, and the garage are now demanding £40 compensation for the tree or the thieves risk the number plate being handed to police.

The Skoda dealership’s Jason Morgan posted images of the two festive felons, saying: "Here are our five-finger Christmas elves.

"Christmas good will, we have made you an offer, registration and vehicle have been noted, can anyone name and shame though?"

He added: "Five-finger Christmas Elves you have been caught with your hand in the cookie jar, £40 in an envelope to pay for the tree and we will call it good Christmas spirit, you can drop it by in your 3-door Freelander, the registration of which we have."

Another post says: "Thanks for visiting us late on Saturday evening, you forgot to pay when you took the tree... season of goodwill and all that, put the £40 through the door and we’ll say no more about it."

In the footage from late Saturday night, the woman picks up the tree and carries it to the vehicle, watched by the man.

One poster on Facebook said: "Love how she carries the tree and light weight has his hands in his pockets, oh but he did manage to open the door."

Mr Morgan added: "Who looks right at the camera when stealing, he looks like he couldn’t even be bothered."