PORT ANGELES — Another baby Jesus was taken from a Port Angeles Nativity scene Tuesday night, a resident told the Peninsula Daily News.
Wade Powers said his wife, Annie, discovered the missing ceramic Jesus from their yard on Rook Drive off Mount Angeles Road at about noon Wednesday.
At first, Annie thought her husband was pulling a prank in the wake of five baby Jesus figures that were reported in the PDN on Wednesday as having been stolen.
“I guess we joined the club,” Wade Powers said.
Powers said he did not report the theft to police because he was embarrassed.
“It’s a very, very unfortunate thing that people would do this,” said Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith, adding that people take a lot of pride and put a lot of effort into their Nativity scenes.
“It’s pretty disappointing that people would do this.”
Two Port Angeles women, Kristina Russell and Merri Wilson, told police they suspected a Nativity theft ring was in operation after the lighted plastic statues of the infant Jesus of Nazareth were stolen from at least five Nativity sets in their neighborhood on South N Street over the weekend.
The problem isn’t confined to Port Angeles, Smith said, adding that baby Jesus statues are taken all over the country.
Powers said he presumed it was just a prank.
“There were a lot of other things there,” he said. “They could have done a lot of damage.”
The three-dimensional baby Jesus was one of several statues in the yard. The scene included a donkey, three wise men, two angels, Mary and Joseph.
Powers said the Jesus statue — part of a complete set he purchased from Costco Wholesale — was probably worth about $50.
Clallam Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron said there were no reports of items taken from Nativity scenes in unincorporated areas as of Thursday.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.