Police Chief Sends Crooks Holiday Cards

Criminals in a Canadian city will be receiving an unexpected Christmas card this year ... from the police chief. The card being sent out this week to "prolific offenders, property offenders, and persons known for drug and gang activity" feature the chief wearing a Santa suit (and a bulletproof vest and helmet) and packing automatic weapons. "Which list will you be on next year?" it asks, and inside there's a number to call if the card manages to inspire any of the recipients to switch on over to the "nice" list and turn his or her life around.

Abbotsford has one of the worst crime problems in Canada, the AFP explains. It had one of the highest numbers of murders per capita in 2008 and 2009, although safety has been improving since then. (More Christmas stories.)