‘Dude, You’re Not Santa’: Fla. Man Trying to Break Into Home Via Its Chimney Produces One Amazing Picture

Short on booze money, a Florida man and his friend decided Wednesday to break into a nearby home to rob it of its valuables.

But it’s how they tried to break into the home that has people familiar with the situation laughing (and that produced one of the funniest pictures of the week):

Image source: Naples Fire-Rescue Department

Richard Tyler Brandon, 25, and Derek Grenfell, 26, were partying it up at a bar in Naples, Fla., Wednesday when they realized they needed more money to continue drinking.

So they decided to break into a nearby home via its chimney.

"I said, 'Dude, you're not Santa Claus, what are you doing,” Grenfell told Brandon, according to law enforcement officials.

Brandon climbed to the roof of the house and tried to squeeze his way down the chimney, but ended up getting stuck.

Richard Brandon (image source: Facebook)

Derek Grenfell (image source: Facebook)

When Brandon realized he was in a serious jam, Grenfell panicked and called the police. First responders showed up and proceeded to remove Brandon from the chimney.

“There is a chance he could have died. The space he was jammed into was really tight. He couldn't move,” said Naples detective Robert Young, according to the Associated Press.

As officials worked to remove the bad Santa, neighbors gathered and recorded the scene:

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"This is the first time I've ever seen or heard of something like this," said Battalion Chief Pete DiMaria, according to clickorlando.com.

"I think this Santa was trying to remove things rather than bringing presents in," said homeowner Mike Whitley, adding that the whole situation played out like a “reverse kind of Santa.” "He was going the wrong way."

Derek Grenfell (image source: Collier County Jail)

Richard Tyler Brandon (image source: Collier County Jail)

It took first responders roughly 90 minutes to remove the would-be burglar. Brandon was later taken to a hospital for leg and back pain before he and Grenfell were arrested, the former charged on two counts of burglary charges and the latter charged with two counts of burglary accessory.

They were both released from jail Thursday morning.

(H/T: Daily Mail)

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Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

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