Baby Jesus stolen from Nativity scene

MENASHA, Wis. (WLUK) -- Someone stole the baby Jesus figurine from a Menasha church's Nativity and now parishioners are asking for its return.

"We don't know, but somebody took Jesus and did a little damage in rearranging the Nativity statues," said parishionerCraig Quick.

According to Menasha police, someone took the baby Jesus figurine between Sunday night and Monday morning.

It's a move that's dampened the holiday spirit for parishioners.

"Disappointed. The Nativity has been at the parish almost 20 years," Quick told FOX 11 News.

Police are investigating, but don't have much to go on at the moment.

"At this point we don't know who stole the figurine, but we are asking for the public's help," explainedLt. Nick Thorn of the Menasha Police Dept.

And, apparently, this is not the first time something was taken from this, specific Nativity scene.

"They have had things missing from the church, from the figurine set," Thorn told us.

The thought is the theft might be a prank -- but no one's laughing.

"It's not at all funny. It's disrespectful and this incident was very unfortunate," said Thorn.

"I don't know that they put a whole lot of thought into what they were doing. So it was probably thoughtless and careless more than anything else," added Quick.

And topping parishioners' Christmas list is getting the figurine back. They're just asking for its safe return.

"You can drop it off any time, no questions asked. Just put him back where you found him. We'd just like to get it back," Quick told us.

Police officers say this is a reminder for your own personal Christmas decorations. They say it can't hurt to put up surveillance cameras this time of year.

If you have any information about the missing figurine, you're asked to callOfficer Adam Schulz of the Menasha Police Department at (920) 967-3500 or email him at aschulz@ci.menasha.wi.us.