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Woman Charged With Stealing Statue Of Baby Jesus

REUTERS/Tony Gentile

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Amber Randall Civil Rights Reporter
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Police charged a woman in connection with the theft of a baby Jesus statue in Bethlehem, Penn. Thursday.

Bethlehem police charged Jacqueline Ross, 49, for theft and institutional vandalism of personal property, reports The Morning Call.

Ross has been accused of stealing a small statue of baby Jesus from a nativity scene Dec.4. Police tracked her down with the help of surveillance video that showed a woman walking off with the statue, valued at over $2,900, and other tips.

Police apprehended Ross when she was spotted at a local hospital after making an unstated medical call, according to Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio.

Ross claimed it was a prank when she talked to police. She stole the statue because it had been “neglected” by “Joseph and Mary Christ,” its parents, she told police.

Ross left the statue in the “safe space” for baby drop offs at the hospital with a note, police said.

“Child has broken right foot which is been neglected. Parents Joseph and Mary Christ got a warning. Apparently sheep has a baby toe nibbling fetish. Child has been taken to Anderson St. Luke’s hospital for evaluation repair. Signed concerned citizens, Trooper and Shilo,” the note read according to court documents.

DiLuzio said the statue has since been returned to the nativity scene. He fixed the statue with glue, paint and epoxy.

“It was something that had to get done, and it had to get done in a hurry, because we are the Christmas City,” DiLuzio said.

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