Baby Jesus theft

Outdoor Chicago nativity scene

Baby Jesus theft is the theft of plastic or ceramic figurines of the infant Jesus (or, "Baby Jesus") from outdoor public and private nativity displays during the Christmas season. Thefts usually occur late at night or early in the morning with the figurines generally recovered within hours. However, some figurines are never recovered, or are damaged beyond repair or defaced with graffiti. The victims of such thefts are usually outraged. Some ascribe the thefts to juvenile pranksters while others wonder if the thefts indicate an anti-Christian message. The frequency of such thefts has caused the owners of outdoor manger scenes (such as homeowners and clergymen) to protect their property with GPS devices or surveillance cameras.

Typical incidents

Baby Jesus theft generally occurs late at night or in the very early morning hours. The thefts are typically discovered shortly thereafter when victims find their private lawn displays vandalized or arrive at work to find their workplace displays pillaged. In December 2008, a Stony Point supervisor, for example, noted that the town's Baby Jesus was likely stolen "late Sunday or early Monday." The supervisor's assistant noticed the statue missing Monday morning.

Baby Jesus thefts typically outrage those made victims. Some view such thefts as pranks while others view them as sins or blasphemies. A Pennsylvania State Police Corporal told the Morning Call newspaper, "[The thieves] think it's a prank, but it isn't a prank to some of these [victims]. Plus, it's just wrong to steal the baby Jesus."

In 2008, a Baby Jesus was stolen from First United Methodist Church in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and replaced with a pumpkin, and, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a thief not only stole the Baby Jesus but absconded with the concrete block and chain that was supposed to act as a deterrent. In a German incident, a troubled 38-year-old mother left her newborn in the manger of the altar nativity at Peter and Paul Church in Poettmes.

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Baby Jesus figurine defaced with graffiti

Some Babies Jesus have been defaced with profanity or Satanic symbols. In December 2008, a 19 year old homeless, unemployed man "just hanging out" in Eureka Springs, Arkansas was arrested for stealing a Baby Jesus valued at US$375. The statue was grafitti covered and damaged beyond repair. The man denied having defaced the figure and claimed to have stolen it in order "to fit in."

Some communities suffer repeat Baby Jesus thefts. A Baby Jesus was stolen in December 2008 from a Stony Point town display. A town official remarked, "If someone did it as a prank, I don't find it funny." The crèche had been vandalized the year before, and a menorah next to it had been toppled and broken.

Some victims of Baby Jesus theft look to God to right the wrong. Members of the Andover, New York First Baptist Church discovered their Baby Jesus missing from an outdoor manger scene shortly before Christmas 2008. Pastor Frank Troutman believed the thieves were neighborhood children and Baby Jesus would be returned when the thieves' parents found the figurine in their offspings' possession. Troutman did not file an official report with police but remarked, "God’s going to handle [the theft] just fine, I think."

Baby Jesus theft has attracted media notice outside the United States. Washington journalist Daniel Nasaw of the online presence of England's The Guardian notes that dozens of communities across America have suffered Baby Jesus thefts, and, in some instances, entire nativity scenes. He observes that it is unclear if Baby Jesus theft is on the rise as Federal law enforcement officials do not track such theft.

Security measures

Some people have taken security measures to protect their property. In one case, a Texas family took matters into their own hands. After losing their teeter-totter to thieves, they positioned surveillance cameras in their yard and discovered a teenage girl stealing a US$500 Baby Jesus. Others are reluctant to exercise such vigilance. One Indiana man who suffered the loss of his Baby Jesus rebuffed suggestions to secure the figurines on his porch because, "that would be like putting Jesus in jail".

Surveillance cameras are sometimes unreliable. A nativity scene set up at Fifth and Market Streets near Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania shortly before Christmas 2008 was despoiled of its Baby Jesus within days. Rangers for Independence National Historical Park reviewed camera footage and found no images showing the removal of the figurine from the display.

Some communities are protecting their Babies Jesus with GPS devices concealed within the ceramic figurines.While most disappearances of Babies Jesus are regarded as pranks, some wonder if an Anti-Christian sentiment lurks behind the thefts. Attorney Mike Johnson of the Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative Christian legal group, has said:

"I suspect most of it is childish pranks. Clearly, there are adults with an agenda to remove Christ from Christmas. But they tend to occupy themselves with the courts and courtroom of public opinion."

Stephen Nissenbaum, the author of The Battle for Christmas and a retired professor, views Baby Jesus theft as neither innocent vandalism nor religious hate crimes.

"What it means is that it's OK to go around violating even pretty important norms, as long as real human harm isn't being done. It's not exactly devaluing Christianity, but it is sort of a ritualized challenge to it. It could be Christian kids doing it — and on January 2 they become good Christians again."