Woman caught on camera stealing baby Jesus in Bethlehem

A Pennsylvania woman has been jailed after police say she stole baby Jesus from a Nativity scene in Bethlehem and dropped the statue off at a hospital with a note accusing 'Joseph and Mary Christ' of neglecting their baby.

Police say when they tracked down 49-year-old Jacqueline Ross, she told them it was a joke and a pre-Christmas prank, but they were not amused.

Ross was identified from surveillance video and was arrested on charges of theft and institutional vandalism.
The bizarre holiday stunt took place at around 2am on December 4 when the statue of baby Jesus was snatched from the Nativity Scene at the City of Bethlehem City Hall Plaza. 

The scene is owned by the Chamber of Commerce and placed there for Christmas for public viewing.
The female suspect in the theft was seen walking a tan or gold colored medium size dog at the Nativity scene at City Hall. She was operating a dark colored two-door Saturn.
The pilfered porcelain figurine worth $2,700 was later recovered at the St. Lukes Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township. An incoherent note was left with the statue, which had damage to one leg and hand.


According to court documents, cited by Lehighvalleylive.com, the handwritten missive read: 'Child has broken right foot which is been [sic] neglected. Parents Joseph and Mary Christ got a warning. Apparently sheep has a baby toe nibbling fetish. Child has been taken to Anderson St. Luke's hospital for evaluation repair. Signed concerned citizens, Trooper and Shilo.'
The suspect left the statute in the 'space space' portion of the emergency room lobby where people can drop off unwanted babies, according to police.

A trooper recognized Ross from the CCTV screengrabs showing a woman cradling the figurine and went to her home in Bethlehem Township. A dark-colored Saturn was parked outside, and the woman told the officer she owned a gold-colored dog.
When questioned about the Nativity theft, the 49-year-old suspect allegedly confessed to the crime, telling the trooper: 'I took it. I took the statue. It was a joke, a prank.'
Ross was arraigned Thursday night and ordered held at Northampton County Prison on $30,000 bail.
Under the conditions of her bail, Ross must undergo a psychiatric evaluation, and if released, she is prohibited from coming near Bethlehem City Hall. A Pennsylvania woman has been jailed after police say she stole baby Jesus from a Nativity scene in Bethlehem and dropped the statue off at a hospital with a note accusing 'Joseph and Mary Christ' of neglecting their baby.

Police say when they tracked down 49-year-old Jacqueline Ross, she told them it was a joke and a pre-Christmas prank, but they were not amused.
Ross was identified from surveillance video and was arrested on charges of theft and institutional vandalism.
The bizarre holiday stunt took place at around 2am on December 4 when the statue of baby Jesus was snatched from the Nativity Scene at the City of Bethlehem City Hall Plaza.

The scene is owned by the Chamber of Commerce and placed there for Christmas for public viewing.
The female suspect in the theft was seen walking a tan or gold colored medium size dog at the Nativity scene at City Hall. She was operating a dark colored two-door Saturn.
The pilfered porcelain figurine worth $2,700 was later recovered at the St. Lukes Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township. An incoherent note was left with the statue, which had damage to one leg and hand.

According to court documents, cited by Lehighvalleylive.com, the handwritten missive read: 'Child has broken right foot which is been [sic] neglected. Parents Joseph and Mary Christ got a warning. Apparently sheep has a baby toe nibbling fetish. Child has been taken to Anderson St. Luke's hospital for evaluation repair. Signed concerned citizens, Trooper and Shilo.'
The suspect left the statute in the 'space space' portion of the emergency room lobby where people can drop off unwanted babies, according to police.
A trooper recognized Ross from the CCTV screengrabs showing a woman cradling the figurine and went to her home in Bethlehem Township. A dark-colored Saturn was parked outside, and the woman told the officer she owned a gold-colored dog.

When questioned about the Nativity theft, the 49-year-old suspect allegedly confessed to the crime, telling the trooper: 'I took it. I took the statue. It was a joke, a prank.'
Ross was arraigned Thursday night and ordered held at Northampton County Prison on $30,000 bail.

Under the conditions of her bail, Ross must undergo a psychiatric evaluation, and if released, she is prohibited from coming near Bethlehem City Hall.