Rat family is spotted in the food court under the Christmas tree at David Jones, leaving shoppers ‘disgusted’
A family of rats have been spotted under a Christmas tree in a busy Sydney shopping center, leaving onlookers ‘disgusted’.
Comedian Matt Hey filmed the stomach-churning moment at David Jones on Castlereagh Street in the CBD while he was shopping with friends.
The group initially ventured out to check out the mall’s animatronic ’12 Dogs of Christmas’ display, but were distracted by the live rodents deeper in the building.
“Not the showing we expected,” Hey wrote in the caption of the video, which was posted online.
Local comedian Matt Hey filmed the stomach-churning moment at David Jones on Castlereagh Street in the CBD while shopping with friends
Hey and his friends peered at a Christmas tree in the middle of the food court before someone saw a rat bolt across the floor.
“Oh no, the whole family is playing,” he said as another rat ran away.
“Wow, David Jones really stepped up his window shopping this year, didn’t he?”
An eagle-eyed customer noticed a rat carrying something in its mouth that Hey quickly recognized as a chocolate Lindt ball, stolen from a nearby display.
The comedian then parodied a line from the classic Christmas poem, A Visit from Saint Nicholas, noting that “a creature was moving and it was a mouse.”
Commenters on the video were quick to share their disgust at the footage, with some claiming they would never return to David Jones.
“That’s it, I’m transferring to Myer,” one woman said.
“Oh my God, I’m never picking another Lindt ball out of there again,” a second added.
Mr Hey posted the video online, prompting several commenters to vow never to return to the mall
Comedian Matt Hey (pictured) said: ‘Not the spectacle we expected’
A spokesman for David Jones said the retailer has taken routine steps to prevent rat infestations
Other users noted that rats in the city at night were not a rare sight.
“It’s basically every building in the CBD after dark,” one person wrote.
“There are mice and rats everywhere, be careful, they’re probably in your house,” said a second.
A spokesperson for David Jones told Yahoo that the department store has regular pest control and monitoring processes in place and that it has increased measures to ensure a clean and safe environment.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted David Jones for comment.