Stolen $30,000 Nativity Scene Recovered in Palmer, Alaska

A nativity scene valued between $25,000 and $30,000 was recovered by Palmer police on Thursday night after being stolen earlier in the week. The display, housed in a handcrafted wooden crèche cabin, was found in good condition along the Glenn Highway near Chickaloon.

The scene had been missing since Tuesday or Wednesday when it vanished from a flatbed trailer in the parking lot of St. Michael’s Parish. Father Michael Shields, the parish priest, stated that the figures were built and paid for by local parishioners over a period of seven years. The artisans molded the Jesus figure after a specific Italian image.

Shields said he began searching for the property personally after receiving a tip on Facebook. He drove to Chickaloon at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday but did not locate the trailer during his initial search. While he was still looking, officers from the Palmer police department contacted him to confirm they had found the scene.

The recovery was aided by widespread social media activity. Shields noted that news of the theft spread rapidly across the region, reaching communities from Glennallen to Valdez. He described the community response as one of deep concern and hope.

Police believe the thieves abandoned the display because the trailer's tires went flat. The nativity scene was found partly hidden among trees. Shields said the identity of the individuals who took the property remains unknown.

The pastor called the recovery a Christmas miracle, admitting he had not expected to retrieve the valuable display. He plans to move the scene to a location near the Palmer train depot in the center of town.

The wooden cabin and figurines are now back in the hands of the parish. Shields expressed gratitude for the tips that helped police pinpoint the location on the highway.