SYDNEY (UPI) -- Thieves who stole 17 tons of ham from an Australian warehouse left behind a message reading "Thanks. Merry Christmas."

The holiday well-wishing was found on the wall of the Zammit Ham and Bacon Curers warehouse in Sydney when staff came in to work Monday, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The meat, worth up to $87,000, apparently was removed through a large hole in the warehouse wall, said owner Anthony Zammit.

He is offering a reward of nearly $5,000 to anyone with information that could lead to the recovery of the meat. He insisted Christmas orders would be met regardless.

"We're working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and (we've) put on extra staff," he said. "We won't let anyone down."

Christmas time.. 'tis the season to take stuff

That's a whole lot of ham sandwiches.