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 Baby Jesus stolen in Swedish bible belt

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-24 11:15

STOCKHOLM  – Officials in Sweden pleaded Tuesday for the return of a baby Jesus stolen from a life-size nativity scene outside a hotel in the southern Swedish town of Joenkoeping, in the country's bible belt no less.

Officials in Sweden pleaded Tuesday for the return of a baby Jesus stolen from a life-size nativity scene outside a hotel in the southern Swedish town of Joenkoeping, in the country's bible belt no less. [Agencies]

"We'll forgive them but then we really want to get this baby Jesus back," Curt Ankarberg, who is responsible for the manger, told Swedish Radio.

Ankarberg said he suspected a group of teenagers had swiped the Jesus for kicks, and appealed to their Christmas conscience.

"They can call me, I won't call the police or reveal their names," he said.

The nativity scene was organised by 17 local congregations in Joenkoeping, a town of 85,000 that has a high concentration of Protestant congregations not affiliated with the Church of Sweden.

The artist-commissioned manger cost 300,000 kronor (US$38,300, 27,400 euros).