The Associated Press

DELAWARE, Ohio - When a 5-year-old learned someone had stolen a life-size statue of the infant Jesus from her church's Nativity scene, she knew she could replace it. Brittany Bogan donated one of her dolls wrapped in a blanket.

"This is a special doll," she said.

"It's kind of cute," the Rev. William Saunders, pastor of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, said Sunday. "Everybody was really touched by Brittany's gift."

Her father, Ernest Bogan, said Brittany performed in a children's play at the church on Dec. 15 and noticed the empty crib. The theft apparently occurred on Dec. 8.

When told the statue had been stolen, Brittany said, "That's awful. Why would somebody do that?" her father said.

The Rev. Mr. Saunders said the 15-figurine Nativity scene has been a familiar sight downtown for nearly 20 years. All the figurines are tied down with wire cable. The wires holding the statue of Jesus in its crib were cut.

A parishioner has offered to pay to replace the statue, the Rev. Mr. Saunders said. But finding such a figurine might be difficult because the Nativity set is old. The pastor said he couldn't guess how much a replacement would cost if one could be found.

The Rev. Mr. Saunders did not file a police report about the theft. He said he has forgiven the thief and is not concerned that anyone is punished.

"I think it's a prankster," he said. "You hope somebody will realize what they've done" and return the statue.