BLANHCESTER —A baby Jesus was stolen from a nativity scene in Blanchester, according to police.

At around 1 a.m. Thursday police were dispatched to the 200 block of East Baldwin Street where Phillip Buscher, 35, reported the baby Jesus had been stolen from the Nativity scene on his front yard.

Buscher stated the crime had just occurred and that he had chased the suspects to no avail, according to Police Chief Scott Reinbolt.

“Officers patrolled the area and did not locate the culprits,” said Reinbolt. “Witnesses were interviewed and at this point the suspects are described only as two young men. The baby Jesus was not recovered.”

An officer has been assigned to investigate the case; anyone with information is asked to contact the police department.