Baby Jesus statues swiped from Parsippany church

Thieves stealing Baby Jesus statues from nativity scenes around Morris County continued on their sinful path after Christmas as a Parsippany church was targeted for the second time in 2015.

"We would be very grateful if they returned it," said Sara Fourounjian, business manager for St. Peter the Apostle church. "All will be forgiven."

Township police, who reported the theft on Thursday, were called to the church on Dec. 30, where they were advised that the Baby Jesus statue was stolen out of the nativity scene placed along the westbound lane of Route 46 near the corner of Baldwin Road.

Police determined the theft occurred between Dec. 27 and 28.

"Somebody saw it there on Sunday (Dec. 27), but the next Tuesday we noticed it was gone," Fourounjian said.

Fourounjian added the church followed tradition by not placing the Baby Jesus statue in the scene until Christmas Eve.

The holiday crime followed another theft at the church earlier in the year that targeted another of the four nativity scenes owned by the church, with thieves taking figures of Jesus, Mary, Joseph and two sheep.

"That was an expensive set, too, made of wood and hand-carved in Italy," Fourounjian said.

The crime is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the Investigative Division at 973-263-4313.

Township police also continue to investigate the disappearance of a Baby Jesus statue from the nativity scene placed outside a private residence on Adam Drive on Dec. 6.

The nativity crime spree extended this year beyond Parsippany to include Baby Jesus statues snatched from five northern New Jersey churches since Christmas Eve.  Rev. Peter Glabik told the Associated Press that the figurine was taken from its outdoor nativity scene between 7 p.m. Dec. 26 and 7 a.m. Dec. 27. Similar thefts were reported over the holidays at churches in Kearny, Lyndhurst and North Arlington.

Authorities said they were working to determine if the thefts are related.

This year's victims hope to enjoy similar outcomes to Baby Jesus thefts in 2014 that took place in Rockaway Township.

Last year, Elaine and Mark Romito reported the Baby Jesus figurine in their nativity scene had been stolen from their front lawn on Daniel Street. Their figurine was not recovered, but on Christmas Day, a father and son appeared at their doorstep and gifted them with an exact replacement of their inexpensive but hard-to-find family treasure.

"It's a Christmas miracle," Elaine Romito said. "They only gave us their first names and said they lived nearby. The father's name was Alex and the son, who looked like a teenager, maybe 16, was named Brian. They asked if we were the family who lost our Baby Jesus. When we said they were, they asked if they could replace it."

News of the crime at the Romito residence was followed with a report a few days later filed by another Rockaway Township resident, George Falcone, who told police of a similar Baby Jesus theft from his front lawn in the White Meadow Lake section.

Rockaway borough police later contacted both the Romitos and Falcone after recovering a Baby Jesus figure, which turned out to be Falcone's.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.