WASHINGTON — A witness described what appeared to be Santa Claus leaving a convenience store with a bag reportedly full of stolen cigarettes following a burglary Friday.

At approximately 2:40 a.m., Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report a suspect allegedly broke a pane of glass at the story using a 2-by-10 board left at the scene to gain entry into the Sprint Mart on U.S. 61 North in Washington.

The only thing that appeared to be missing was approximately 50 boxes of Newport Long cigarettes.

A witness who called 911 describes arriving to make a delivery to the store and observed that the front glass door was shattered and an alarm was going off.

Shortly after arriving, the witness reports he saw a subject wearing what appeared to be a red Santa Claus suit exiting the store with a bag in his hand.

The witness, in a vehicle, tried to follow the subject around the north side of the store, but the suspect had disappeared.

The sheriff’s office was not able to review surveillance at the time of arrival due to a new security system being in place that staff could not log into, deputies reported.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said the office’s K-9, Duke, was able to track the scent to a location Patten would not disclose. Patten said deputies also have good leads.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 601-442-2752.

People can anonymously also use the department’s tip411 app or service. To use the service, text NotAdams and the message to 847411 or download the Adams County Sheriff’s Office Tips App on Apple or Android devices.