Nativity scene statue of baby Jesus stolen from Dennison Building, Suffolk officials say

Officials are asking for the public’s help to locate and return a statue of baby Jesus they said was stolen recently from a Nativity scene displayed outside the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said Friday the statue was discovered missing Thursday and was stolen sometime between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.

The county "emphasizes tolerance and acceptance of all religions," Catalina said, and called the theft "an affront to Christianity." 

The county wants the statue returned, and police were searching for it Friday, he said.

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said he was "hoping" the theft was not a hate crime.

"Just bring it back and return it," Romaine said. "If you want to drop it off at the H. Lee Dennison Building, we won't detain anyone. We won't ask why. We'll just accept it back."

The Nativity scene is donated each year by St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Farmingville, according to county police.

Newsday's Maureen Mullarkey contributed to this story.