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Thief in US returns stolen Baby Jesus statue with apology note: 'Made a dumb mistake'

A stolen Baby Jesus statue in Colorado was returned to a fire station with an apology note.

Published on: Dec 25, 2024, 16:46:00 IST
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As the world revelled in the joy of Christmas, a peculiar incident added a twist to the celebrations in Colorado, USA. A Baby Jesus statue, stolen from a nativity scene in Fort Collins’ Old Town Square, mysteriously reappeared at a local fire station, accompanied by an apology note.

In Colorado, a stolen Baby Jesus statue was returned with an apology note, amusing and relieving netizens.
In Colorado, a stolen Baby Jesus statue was returned with an apology note, amusing and relieving netizens.

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The Fort Collins Police Department had initially taken to Facebook to report the theft, sharing a blurry security camera image of a young man holding the statue. The post caption read, “This Grinch tried to ruin Christmas by stealing the Baby Jesus from the Old Town Square nativity scene. If you recognise this suspect, please notify Officer Brittingham."

A surprising return

Days later, the case took a heartwarming turn when the stolen statue was found at the Poudre Fire Authority Station. An Instagram post by the police department featured two firemen holding the recovered Baby Jesus statue, with an apology note taped to its face.

(Also read: 'Kya majburi thi?': Woman transforms hair into a Christmas tree, leaves internet divided)

The handwritten note read, “I am really sorry. I made a dumb mistake at the moment. It won’t happen again." While the gesture brought relief, the identity of the thief remains a mystery. Interestingly, the businesses that own the nativity scene have not filed any formal complaint against the perpetrator.

Take a look here at the post:

Netizens react to the redemption arc

The unexpected conclusion sparked a flurry of reactions on social media. Many users shared their astonishment and amusement in the comment sections of the posts.

“I can’t believe the thief actually returned it to a fire station. That’s next-level irony,” one user remarked. Another wrote, “This should be national news – the drama, the apology note, the fire station!”

The note itself became a topic of intrigue. “Looks like a non-dominant college kid apology to me," speculated one commenter. Meanwhile, a user confessed, “I was so invested in this story from start to finish that I’d forgotten I don’t even live in Colorado. Still, so happy the town got its Baby Jesus back.”

Others added a humorous touch. “Holy baby savers," one user cheered, while another joked, “This reminds me of Chris Isaak’s song ‘Help Me Baby Jesus.’” A commenter even admitted, “I see no crime here – just a holiday misstep made right."

  • Mahipal Singh Chouhan
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Mahipal Singh Chouhan

    Mahipal Singh Chouhan is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, with nearly five years of experience in digital journalism and content production. He primarily covers offbeat, trending and human-interest stories, with a focus on emerging social media trends, online conversations and real-world incidents that capture public attention. At Hindustan Times, Mahipal works on identifying and developing fast-moving digital stories, adding context and journalistic perspective to viral moments while maintaining accuracy, clarity and readability for online audiences. Before joining Hindustan Times Digital, he was associated with DNA India, where he gained experience in newsroom workflows and digital storytelling. He holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi. Beyond journalism, he has a keen interest in history and sports and enjoys expanding his general knowledge.Read More