Baby Jesus thefts seem to be epidemic

"Bring Back Baby Jesus and no one will get hurt - God."

So reads a sign on the ground next to a Nativity scene at Alameda Christian Reformed Church in Alameda, Calif., according to the Alameda Sun.

It's tough to keep the Christ in Christmas when thieves keep stealing him

News reports from all over the country tell of many a missing baby Jesus - even from the town famous for the proposed "Bridge to Nowhere."

Five were stolen since last weekend just Cape May County, N.J., including one from a Lower Township funeral home's display, according to the Cape May County Herald.

In one Cape May Courthouse heist, the entire Nativity scene was taken, except for a broken cradle.

Pennsylvania has had at least five thefts.

On Tuesday in Philadelphia, a new Jesus and a cradle replaced the ones that vanished two weekends ago from an Independence Mall creche.

Another was taken shortly after Thanksgiving from the town square in Red Lion, York County, according to WGAL.com.

A lighted baby Jesus, including cord, was yanked from in front of a woman's home in Littlestown, Adams County, Pa., according to the York Daily Record.

On Sunday in northwestern Pennsylvania town of Sandy Creek, the baby Jesus was stolen for the second year in a row from the Mittelstadt family's manger scene, according to the Sharon Herald.

"So it's got to be same hoodlums," said Walter Mittelstadt.

On Saturday in Grand Haven, Mich., Rod Elenbaas looked out his window and saw grass where the baby Jesus used to be, according to the Grand Haven Tribune.

"My grandson asked, 'Why would someone take baby Jesus right before Christmas?' " Elenbaas said.

Two weeks ago in Franklin, Tenn., the iconic infant was pilfered from the First United Methodist Church's Nativity scene.

The figure was estimated to be worth $1,000.

Last week in Hattiesburg, Miss., Westminster Presbyterian lost its baby Jesus - for the second year in a row, according to the Hattiesburg American.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph were all swiped from a family's front yard last weekend in New Albany, Indiana - after two decades without a problem, according to WLKY.com.

"It was sickening that somebody would be that low," said Paul Anderson, who said the figures had been in his family for over four decades.

Despite being chained, a Jesus also vanished from the Clover Pass Community Church in Ketchikan, Alaska, according to the Ketchikan Daily News. The town became famous as the destination of the "Bridge to Nowhere" whose funding was halted by Congress and Gov. Sarah Palin.

A drummer boy and a sheep disappeared along with Jesus from a family's front yard in Rowlett, Texas, display, according to the Rowlett Lakeshore Times.

Other missing Jesus cases have been reported in Colorado, Massachusetts and Florida, according to online reports.

The Muccis of Somerset, Ky., had better luck than most.

On Tuesday, their baby Jesus, which disappeared last week, was found by authorities, according to wkyt.com.

In Arkansas, a Jesus was recovered - but it was damaged and marked with "racial slurs, a swastika and a Hitler mustache," according to kfsm.com.

A 19-year-old was arrested, and charged with misdemeanor theft.