Despite the best efforts of Gardai, as well as a nationwide manhunt, the elusive Dazzler the Elf is still evading the clutches of the law.
But the search has brought out the best in both the Gardai and the public, with some amazing back-and-forth exchanges on social media.
Most recently spotted in Co Cavan, Dazzler has left gardai scratching their heads, and the public thoroughly entertained, with his antics in recent weeks.
On Facebook, one observer urged Dazzler not to cross the border to do his Christmas shopping, while another suggested that Cavan is the "wrong county to try and nick some cash."
Anthony O'Connell wrote on Facebook: "You won’t even find it under the mattress either! Only the Cavan man knows where Cavan people hide the cash."
Someone suggested that he might be making a desperate bid for the north pole, with a fourth commenter advising the Gardai to call for backup: "He’s running rings around ye!"
Yesterday brought similarly chuckle-worthy exchanges between gardai and the public, as officers admitted that "ELFPHET guidelines permit elves to travel" even as the rest of us stay home as much as possible.
One worried onlooker wondered aloud if Dazzler had made a trip to the pub for a festive lock-in – prompting the Gardai to respond: "Down with that sort of thing!"
The Dazzler updates continue to come thick and fast, after a mother this week praised officers for their treatment of her six-year-old son when he asks about the Elf at Garda checkpoints.
Sarah Jane Daunt Smyth Keating wrote on Facebook: "Every checkpoint we stop at, my six-year-old son has to question gardai about Dazzler and I have to say fair play to every guard so far, they have been fantastic with him.
"Hopefully he lands in Wexford soon and gets caught by the great gardai down here."
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