4 Arrested in Theft of Baby Jesus Figurines
By THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: January 3, 2006
Four New Jersey teenagers were arrested yesterday and charged with stealing more than 25 plastic baby Jesus figurines, which they planned to burn in a bonfire, the police said.
The police in Sayreville, N.J., arrested Michael Payne, 19, and Christopher M. Olson, 18, both of Old Bridge; Nicholas M. Hess, 18, of Matawan; and a 15-year-old boy whose identity was not disclosed because of his age.
The investigation began on Sunday afternoon, when vandals destroyed a cross and large statue of Jesus at a cemetery at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Sayreville, the police said.
The night before, a neighbor had seen flashlights in the cemetery and jotted down the license plates of a car in the vicinity. Investigators traced the plate to the address of one of the teenagers, and the baby Jesus figures were found in a car there, the police said.
The boys were charged with theft, conspiracy, criminal mischief and desecration of a place of burial.
The baby Jesus figures, now at the police station, were probably stolen from homes and churches around the Sayreville area within the past few weeks, the police said.
"It looked like a maternity ward," Lt. Glenn Skarzynski said of the array of figurines.
He added, "Anyone able to identify their particular baby Jesus will be able to be reunited."
