Three days before Christmas, an allegedly bad dad made his son and nephew swipe mail from mailboxes in Bernal Heights, police said.

Cops say a suspect who was booked at Ingleside Station Wednesday gave the young boys plastic bags with instructions to steal mail from mailboxes, then showed them how to use a stick to reach mail in some boxes, police said.

A citizen reported the thefts to cops, who said the trio possessed a “copious amount” of mail. The mail reportedly came from several residences in the area.

After the arrest, the boys were released to a parent, police said. Police said they have made contact with some mail owners.