A baby Jesus figurine stolen from a nativity scene in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado, has been returned just in time for Christmas, accompanied by a heartfelt apology.
The figurine, which depicts Jesus lying in a manger, was taken early Sunday from a public display in the heart of the city. According to police, the stolen statue was anonymously returned to a local fire station on Thursday, along with a handwritten note expressing remorse.
“I’m really sorry. I made a dumb mistake in the moment. It won’t happen again,” the note read.
The return came only two days after Fort Collins police shared surveillance footage of the suspected thief on social media. The video showed an individual, believed to be a teen or young adult, taking the figurine. The footage sparked significant community attention and calls for the figurine’s safe return.
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While police confirmed the figurine’s recovery, they noted that the fire station’s motion-sensing door camera failed to capture the drop-off. The person responsible remains unidentified, and no additional details about the incident have been disclosed.
The business responsible for maintaining the nativity scene has opted not to press charges, emphasizing the desire to move past the incident and preserve the holiday spirit.