Jesus-Napping Prompts Leash

There has been a (baby) rash of Nativity crime in Chicagoland over the past few years, and this year’s organizers of the Nativity scene (known as the “God Squad”) in Daley Plaza have taken steps to help curb the thefts--the baby Jesus is chained down like a toddler on a leash. The God Squad has faith he’s not going anywhere this year. A Tribune expose has revealed the Baby Jesus has been stolen numerous times since it was first put in place in 1985.

But it’s not just the Daley Plaza Baby Jesus that has turned up missing. Last year, 32 plastic baby Jesus dolls were stolen from Nativity scenes, and then lined up along the fence of a South Side lawn. We’re not sure what that’s about -- performance art, maybe?

Apparently, Chicago isn’t the only place that struggles with keeping Baby Jesus secure. An Australian brewing company offered up a reward of six cases of beer for the safe return of Jesus. In England, beer can producers donated funds to replace a swiped Jesus. Two years ago, a 70-year-old Arkansas grandmother was charged in the theft of Jesus, and she blamed at “tattletale” for turning her in. And in 2006, New Jersey detectives uncovered a Jesus-Theft Crime Ring that turned up 27 hot Jesus statues.

Image by Incendiarymind.