An AP/AOL poll reveals that 86% of us believed in Santa as children and the average age for losing that belief is 8 years old. Still, Santa plays an important role in Christmas celebrations for about 51% of us.

But Santa has had some bad press lately.

David Allen Rodgers was arrested after the intoxicated 42 year old took off at the wheel of a holiday parade float in Anderson, S.C. Rodgers sped down Main street and led police on a 3 mile chase with 19 people aboard the float.

Also in SC, a Santa Claus on a motorcycle with a sidecar stopped at a convenience store and grabbed an 8-year-old girl, kidnapped her and took off. The girl’s father saw John Michael Barton speeding off with his daughter and gave chase. After a chase reaching speeds of 80 mph, Barton finally pulled over and released the girl.

Add to that the pranks, thefts and vandalisms that seem more a part of Halloween than Christmas – all over, teens steal baby Jesus dolls from nativity scenes and attack inflatable Santas and snowmen – it seems the spirit of Christmas is not what it used to be.