Stolen Baby Jesus Returned To Mission Viejo Nativity Scene

MISSION VIEJO, CA — A family in Mission Viejo was startled and saddened Monday when they discovered a baby Jesus statue was missing from their life-sized nativity scene.

During the night, "someone stole him from the area of Jeronimo and Cordillera," Mission Viejo Police Services Lt. Quyen Vuong said.

Deputies took the theft report from the homeowners and were struck by the note the family left in the homeowners' front yard. The placard "Please Return Our Baby Jesus, Merry Christmas!" sat in the manger.

The department shared the missing Messiah on their Facebook page with a plea to help the family, and fans of the department weighed in their thoughts on the matter.

"Though it's a joke on television and in the movies, this really is theft and I hope they get caught," Marcy Smith said over Facebook.

On Tuesday the statue was returned to its rightful place under the careful watch of the shepherds, wise men, angels and of course, Mary and Joseph.

Mission Viejo OCSD Department of Police Services Photo