Two men wearing Santa hats and long white beards were takers, not givers, robbing a bartender in Australia at knifepoint, police said.

The robbery occurred Sunday evening at the Cutheringa Bowls Club in Townsville on the northern coast of Queensland, The Townsville Bulletin reported.

Police have appealed to local retailers for help in identifying anyone who might have acquired two Santa Claus outfits recently.

"Both offenders were wearing Santa Claus hats and white beards," Detective Senior Sgt. Brett McLucas said.

At the time of the robbery, the young woman tending bar was alone in the club except for the Santas, police said. She said that one came over, pulled out a large hunting knife and a green cloth shopping bag and ordered her to fill the bag with the money from the till.

Once she had complied, the terrified woman ran out the back door while the men left by the front.