Regional Road Baby Jesus stolen, again
Updated:
The Baby Jesus in the Regional Road crib has been stolen, again.
Its absence was noticed yesterday by maintenance staff of Environment Landscapes Consortium (ELC) who decorate and tend the roundabouts all over Malta and Gozo.
A replacement was placed in the crib in the morning.
A baby Jesus and Our Lady were stolen from the same crib last year, and the Baby Jesus was eventually handed to a priest in Gozo.
Another baby Jesus was also stolen from the same place in 2008.
Last year, a baby Jesus was also stolen from a crib made of recyclable material in Marsascala, and it was then replaced by another figure of Jesus made by unknown people.
Some organisers of open air cribs have now made it a practice to remove baby Jesus for the night.
A few weeks ago a lighting fixture erected by ELC at a roundabout in Zurrieq was also stolen, but it was recovered after a sharp-eyed employee spotted it hanging from a balcony.
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Ray Spiteri
Jan 1st 2011, 19:08
There is only one way to stop such repetitive acts. Install a CC Camera . Once culprits are identified they will have to pay for stolen item and a percentage of other vandalism costs on the island.
Chris Reiff
Jan 1st 2011, 19:01
hahahaha some people need to lighten up. it's just a porcelain or even plastic figure. besides, catholics should read the uncut version of the second commandment which says you shouldn't even have sculptures of your god. happy days.
Karl Consiglio
Dec 31st 2010, 18:43
Satanists, for sure.
john attard
Dec 31st 2010, 17:03
this is incredibly hilarious, and you moaners and groaners are just making it all the more farcical
Joseph Galea
Dec 31st 2010, 13:08
I cannot understand this Christian mentality ,that if a fellow Christian decide to steal a plastic baby figure he must be electrocuted so after he/she dies, god will send them to hell.
Maybe the authorities next year will issue tenders for those who wants to install this death trap.I bet that you Christians will be among the first to submit your tenders for the pleasure of seeing someone dies this way.
It seems that the human killings ordered from God written in the chapters of Leviticus from the old scriptures are still roaming into Christian's minds today.
Amanda Seguna
Dec 31st 2010, 16:04
I never said anything about wanting the thieves to die just to learn a lesson!
Graham Crocker
Dec 31st 2010, 11:35
Motion activated baby Jesus which squirts black ink at anyone who gets too close.
Joe Degiorgio
Jan 1st 2011, 08:04
That's so funny. You gave me the first serious laugh for 2011. Well done and Happy New Year.
Amanda Seguna
Dec 31st 2010, 09:13
I would put a live wire attached to the bottom of each statue that emmits a small shock, that way you wouldn't need cameras etccc....you would know who tried to take them as they'd still be there the following morning. These people are a disgrace.
E Gatt
Dec 31st 2010, 08:20
Friday, 8 a.m.
Jesus returns to His manger.
Diana Posey
Dec 31st 2010, 05:14
In fact, it seems to happen a lot and everywhere. I am living in Florida at the moment and the local news just reported a baby Jesus stolen from a natiivity scene, from here as well.
http://www.news4jax.com/news/26316203/detail.html
Looks like Baby Jesus is a magnet for a lot of people who want to keep the cute statue all for themselves, most probably Christians who ignore the Eighth Commandment - Thou Shalt Not Steal! La Tisraqx!
Doreen Sultana
Dec 31st 2010, 04:41
Maybe it's time that the authorites put up an electrifying fence around the crib.
This will catch the culprit!
Just imagine the News headlines in the morning :)
maria whitehead
Dec 31st 2010, 00:46
Next year revert the prank on the pranksters.... fill it with concrete! :) happy new year everyone
Charmaine Marmara'
Dec 30th 2010, 21:19
this is becoming an annual event and to say the least very funny :))
Amanda Seguna
Dec 31st 2010, 16:06
What is it exactly that you find funny about stealing?
Anne Farrugia
Dec 30th 2010, 21:16
What a pity that one finds 'sick' people roaming the streets/roads...and I'm not referring to just this beautiful island, one finds them everywhere...unfortunately. I agree with the CCTV, GPS cementing Baby Jesus to the crib and then ground...maybe, just maybe this/these idiot(s) will give up...ONE DAY! Wishing you guys all the luck!
George Vella
Dec 30th 2010, 20:42
@ all:
There might be two causes to steal Baby Jesus, either to have Him and adore at home or to ridicule. It is up to the individual who did this crime. Yet it is not only shame but a grave sin depending on the real motive. This is no joke, please beware, for life is to short and then you WILL know to whom this effigy or symbol represents.
Alex Ellul
Dec 30th 2010, 18:26
To all those who are prosing cameras, GPS's, tracking systems etc: Although the Baby Jesus statue reperents a sacred persona for most of our population, including myself, this is just a piece of plastic, most prbably made in China and I would bet my head on a silver platter that it costs less than 20 euros at manufacturer's warehouse. I believe that we should take this annual event with a little humour and even accept it as a Christmas tradition, but delaying its 'disappearanc'e to a later date, say after midnight of the new year.
Alex Ellul
Dec 30th 2010, 18:03
Tgid min serqu? Il halliel it-tajjeb jew il-halliel il-hazin?
A Attard
Dec 30th 2010, 17:07
Can we spare a security warden from Mater Dei?
They seem to be more in abundance there than the paramedics.
Miskin baby Jesus nobody to watch on and guard.
Vanessa Mifsud
Dec 30th 2010, 17:45
Haha the last comment you made was hilarious! Also true.. There are too many security wardens at Mater Dei.
@ Victor Pulis; At least they stole a snowman and Not that ugly piece of plastic! No honestly, they ARE ugly. They should be changed and bolted to the ground if need be to make it much more difficult for anyone to steal it. Obviously no one stole it to use it as a decoration.They like to keep the tradition going :)
victor pulis
Dec 30th 2010, 17:01
It's not something that happens only in Malta. Some days ago it was reported that a woman in England had her snowman (!) stolen. She called the police to report that someone had nicked her snowman!
victor pulis
Dec 30th 2010, 16:57
I bet balthasar (or is it Caspar?) had something to do with it!
Steve Zammit
Dec 30th 2010, 15:25
Next year, we should have full time security gaurds with the Baby Jesus 24 hours, 7 days a week including Christmas eve and Christmas day so He will be never stolen again. They can also dress up as angels or sheperds to blend in with the surrounding landscape :-))
Apart from the joke....I agree with Neville Calleja's comment below, this whole event has become a yearly incident and we are simply giving it too much attention. I think its the same idiot/s doing the same thing year in, year out as a joke to attract attention . I hope the person/s that did this to attract attention read my comment...please GROW UP and return baby Jesus
Clint (IG) Cassar
Dec 30th 2010, 14:26
I bet baby Jesus brought himself to life and walked away....IT'S A MIRACLE!!
JOe VELLa
Dec 30th 2010, 15:22
@Clint Cassar
I saw all posting, some are original but yours take the cake! I hope you realize that each heart beat of yours is a miracle too.
I believe if it is a joke it is time to end it. We look at Christmas as a tradition and a Holy one, after all 'Peace to those of Good Will', has not been offered by anyone else.
To me it is ignorance and nothing else.
Ian Christie
Dec 30th 2010, 16:23
Oh lighten up . It's only a model!
JOe VELLa
Dec 30th 2010, 17:10
@Ian Christie
Thanks for your advice to conduct my affairs. It is so amusingly, ridiculous, funny I could not stop laughing my heart out!
Thanks
S. Calleja
Dec 30th 2010, 14:17
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
J Farrugia
Dec 30th 2010, 16:55
X'tort ghandek int jekk il-halliel jigi jisirqek. Taghmel x'taghmel kollu ghalxejn ghax l-affarijiet ma tistax taqfilhom kollha b'katnazz. Ghad forsi nisirqu l-palazz tal-main guard ghax dak ukoll huwa pubbliku.
A Sammut
Dec 30th 2010, 14:01
Din saret drawwa regolari bhal-Milied. Dak imisshom jghaddulu il-high tension voltage minn go fih dak il-bambin . . . . halli min jazzarda jmissu jibqa mwahhal mieghu toast.
Neville Calleja
Dec 30th 2010, 13:55
The reason why it has been stolen again is because you guys keep reporting it. That way, someone is always going to do it for the kick of seeing it on the papers.
A. Galea
Dec 30th 2010, 13:55
Maybe Karmelina ta' F'Salib it-Toroq' took it !!!
Robert Agius
Dec 30th 2010, 13:31
one down, three to go...
CCTV for baby Jesus...are these people serious?!
micro-chip and tracking devices...for a baby Jesus... you people watch too many 007 movies.
John Grech
Dec 30th 2010, 12:54
The statue of baby Jesus should be put in a way that if anyone try to steal it he gets electrocuted. I do not agree that CCTV cameras be put on the roundabouts - this costs a lot of money and the suggestions of Mr John Micallef are out of place and ridiculous.
Franco Farrugia
Dec 30th 2010, 13:30
At such words of wisdom as yours, I stand in amazement, ... wondering what Baby Jesus stands for!
Tony Gatt
Dec 30th 2010, 13:31
Your suggestion very shocking!!
Jason Fenech
Dec 30th 2010, 14:42
Spoken like a true christian, and no, it's not a compliment. Cribs are for children and by the looks of it, there are still a lot of people who need to grow up.
C Mangion
Dec 30th 2010, 16:27
oh my goodness gracious me...are you even serious????? The christmas spirit just shines through you I must say!! gej bl-electrocuted!! I think whoever took it is getting such a hype seeing it published on the times..
victor rodenas
Dec 30th 2010, 12:43
Good thinking Mr.Barret,a few months ago a car accident at St. Julians brought an angel down from his pedestal right on the bonnet.
l fenech
Dec 30th 2010, 12:35
Maybe it was someone who got Euro1.16 instead of Euro 600.
Michael Vella
Dec 30th 2010, 17:07
Well done Sherlock, you eliminated about 100 people from the suspect list....another 399,900 people to go
Rosanna Ellul
Dec 30th 2010, 12:32
Jesus Christ is not a baby anymore, He died on a tree for the sins of this world and all who believe in Him and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour will have eternal life.
The 2nd Commandment Says:
You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
The 8th Commandment says: You shall not steal.
So to those who made the images read the 2nd commandment and to the ones who took one of them read the 8th commandment..... Your choice
victor rodenas
Dec 30th 2010, 13:09
Rosanna He also told us that before being Baptised,we have to learn,to educate ourselves about religion.But we do it the other way round,..first baptism and then we learn.Of course we know better than Him,..do`nt we?
Maria D.Sacco
Dec 30th 2010, 13:17
So, according to you, shall we efface this tangible remembrance of our Lord's coming to Earth, an event which brings so much happiness to so many people in these islands, a custom which has prevailed for so many years in this country? Please, allow us to rejoice, and may you also find space for such happiness at this time of the year.
victor pulis
Dec 30th 2010, 15:35
And what about The eleventh commandment?
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's baby Jesus!
A. Grech
Dec 30th 2010, 16:26
"He died on a tree for the sins of this world"
You made my day! hahahahahahahaha ace!
happy new year to all!
James De Giorgio
Dec 30th 2010, 12:32
Install some small camera for crying out loud!
Paul Barrett
Dec 30th 2010, 12:20
Come on guys - the baby has studied the standard of driving and sensibly fled for his life. We will have to use a ball and chain next year to prevent escape.
EDWIN DE MARCO
Dec 30th 2010, 12:11
@D.Galea. I agree with the 'micro-chip' idea but definitely the baby Jesus kidnapper should substitute the donkey, (IL-HMAR)....or better still, the perpetrator should be chained to the permanent erection column at Luqa roundabout. On a cruel streak: he should be castrated!
Jlaus
Dec 30th 2010, 12:05
I am not surprised that Baby Jesus was stolen again from Regional Road. But how is it no one ever stole that monument at Luqa Roundabout ??..
Mark Meilak
Dec 30th 2010, 12:26
I guess because it is, like, stuck to the ground?
Seriously, I think we've seen enough Luqa Monument jokes.
Regarding Baby Jesus; this will probably happen every year unless somebody in charge takes precautions, perhaps CCTV cameras and/or making the statues less mobile?
DGalea
Dec 30th 2010, 11:57
'Micro-Chip' the baby next time round so that any would-be Christ-napper will be caught and then used as a substitute in the crib for four whole weeks come rain or shine. :)
Reuben Abela
Dec 30th 2010, 11:24
i'm starting to find this recurring incident very amusing personally...
GIOVANNI RIZZO
Dec 30th 2010, 11:19
I PREFER THE CRIB LIKE BY THE CHURCH OF BURMARRAD THAN ON THE ROUNDABOUTS.IT PROTECT BABY JESUS BETTER (I HOPE!!)
victor rodenas
Dec 30th 2010, 10:49
People steal different object from roundabouts such as flowers,trees,christmas decorations,baby Jesus..later on these objects are replaced.I hope that nobody will ever steal the phallus monument from its roundabout,because of its size it is unique ,cannot be replaced.
Nanette Brimmer
Dec 30th 2010, 10:48
@John Micallef....imma why is it that someone always manages to bring politics into EVERYTHING!!! What's baby Jesus going missing got to do with Malta joining the EU???!! Ufff.... THIS is one thing for sure that can be labelled 'ONLY IN MALTA'!!!
Jos Vella
Dec 30th 2010, 10:39
As this type of act is becoming quite common, it is becoming a challenge or some buzz (not because I agree with it of course!!). I encourage that/those individuals who have made this joke to put baby Jesus back...now that the laughter is over!!!
Chantelle Mifsud
Dec 30th 2010, 10:26
Kidnappers !!
w.scicluna
Dec 30th 2010, 10:13
Ara vera hawn min hu mejjet bil guh!
l aquilina
Dec 30th 2010, 11:15
Come on guys, this is probably the work of some serious booze and ensuing mischief! Ok, joke over, now please bring it back.
Nicky Azzopardi
Dec 30th 2010, 10:12
As sophisticated and hard this may sound... why not stick the baby Jesus to the crib? Plus, nobody has ever stolen the crib. Genius isn't it.
Alex Ciantar
Dec 30th 2010, 10:11
This is getting silly .....every year the same thing happens over again. So the solution is very simple just stop putting this crib in this place again......or is it done for the media attention I wonder???
This road is the main artery to PV where all of Malta's youngsters flock to enjoy the night life so don't you think it is asking for it? Baby Jesus in the middle of regional road is the perfect set up for a quick prank and the kids who must of done the prank must be laughing their heads of at the media attention.
As already commented its becoming a tradition that this prank happens every year so it would suffice to say that next year it is guaranteed that Baby Jesus will go missing again!!!
But there again next year we will have the same news flash and gossip material to keep all the old biddies happy!
Steve Zammit
Dec 30th 2010, 15:27
Well said! Agreed 100% with your comment
victor pulis
Dec 30th 2010, 10:10
somebody wanted twins!!
Nanette Brimmer
Dec 30th 2010, 10:10
@ H. ZAMMIT.....not so...this does not only happen in Malta.... check this site.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/search/news/?q=christmas%20decorations%20stolen
victor pulis
Dec 30th 2010, 10:08
A few weeks ago a lighting fixture erected by ELC at a roundabout in Zurrieq was also stolen, but it was recovered after a sharp-eyed employee spotted it hanging from a balcony.
And what happened to the owner of the balcony?!!
Alex Ellul
Dec 30th 2010, 10:08
Or it's becoming a tradition, sort of. Let it be that way, it's kind of fun too.
Alex Ellul
Dec 30th 2010, 10:06
It's been 2000 years since He was here, and his popularity knows no bounds, even to the point of collecting as much of His effigies as possible. Or its those sick Christmas haters, borderline mentals.
Franco Farrugia
Dec 30th 2010, 09:59
To avoid these childish pranks in the future, the people in charge should try and get a baby-Jesus with crib, all in one, and anchored well into the soil. That would do it.
c. Borg
Dec 30th 2010, 09:55
Yes, we should fit baby Jesus with one of those GPS ankle monitors.
That should stop him wandering off again.
joe diacono
Dec 30th 2010, 09:46
A sick prank that's all it is. Is it possible that there is no CCTV to find out who the culprits where?
Nanette Brimmer
Dec 30th 2010, 09:40
I drive past this crib about 3 or 4 times a day....and each time I check to see whether the baby Jesus is still there....it's become second nature...and...lo and behold...here today - gone tomorrow....it's like I just KNEW it would happen!! What baffles me is....Christmas is over...why take the baby Jesus NOW??! I guess stealing this little figure is becoming as traditional as Christmas itself....it might become part of Maltese folklore and could end up in some legend that the baby Jesus goes walkabout to check which children have been good...or NOT..!!
John Micallef
Dec 30th 2010, 10:04
Eh Nanette, these are wise people, they took it for an investment for next year, as even to buy baby Jesus will be more expensive!!
Apart from stealing Jesus now, i wonder how can in this SMART country, all such roundabouts are not CCTV monitored, at least for safety purpose when accidents happen. Why in this island we pretend to be the ELITE & always want to impress like when we joined the EU (it cost us a fortune), we want to compare our Valletta & Floriana festivities with New Youk (SIC) & the we don't afford a CCTV monitoring for strategic points.
I think what is happening is that whatever for which their is no EU funding, nothing is being done, as it seems this is the trende for our governments.
BTW money for their huge salary increase they found. & i think this this is really frustrating tax payers & lead them to the above doings.
Anthony Farrugia
Dec 30th 2010, 11:04
John Micallef;Re your last paragraph, what has politics got to do with this vandalism, hooliganism or atr you condoning this action, by any chance ?
John Borg
Dec 30th 2010, 11:26
Nannette, I am just like you I guess! I drive past the St.Paul's Bay roundabout many times a day, and yes, I check to see if the baby Jesus doll is still there. I even remarked to my wife last night that this year seems to be better because it's still there! So you are not alone :-)
@John Micallef: I seem to remember times when we had precious little to boast about, but being in the spirit of Christmas, lets not go there!People like you make me smile. You really think that you're preaching to idiots with no memory. Just remember what a siple thing like a roundabout looked like, even without CCTV. No simple grass, no flower beds... just a few bushes that grew on their own, left to thier own devices. Remember, we are only talking about roundabouts.. Imagine comparing so many other things you seem to take forgranted and wish us to do the same!
John Micallef
Dec 30th 2010, 12:38
Dear Mr Farrugia, they call it the animla part of the human & its only natural!!
Similar to your reaction as if for example i unch you in the face.
H Zammit
Dec 30th 2010, 09:40
ONLY IN MALTA !!!
M. Grima
Dec 30th 2010, 10:31
I do like sarcasm and I do look at the funny side of stories.
But what I cannot stand is the phrase that people like you seem to use for everything that happens making it sound that our country is on some extreme not tolerated elsewhere.
You must be spoon fed....so here it is:
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/gazette-communities/2010/12/22/baby-jesus-figure-stolen-from-nativity-scene-84229-27869384/
Happy now. So use your lovely phrase when it means something with proof that it was really only in Malta.
Happy new Year!
Mark Busuttil
Dec 30th 2010, 11:54
@M. Grima
Well said. I'm fed of this "Only in Malta" phrase. Sounds like cultural cringe to me.
Tom Camilleri
Dec 31st 2010, 05:11
@M.Grima I'm sure the 'only in Malta' comment refers to the fact that the same baby Jesus keeps getting stolen without any 'behaviour learning' coming out of it i.e. cctv cameras to catch the culprits
Charles Grixti
Dec 31st 2010, 09:55
A few baby Jesuses also went missing from outdoor cribs here in Canada too.
So this is not a strictly "Only in Malta' phenomenon.
M. Grima
Dec 31st 2010, 10:33
@ Tom Camilleri
http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-baby-jesus-stolen,0,833633.story
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/12/baby_jesus_figure_stolen_again.html
Maybe not as many times as Malta but there you go....repeated. So what good is coming of these 'only in malta' branding agents.
CCTV for a plastic figurine!! It is down to common decency.
Alicia Dimech
Dec 30th 2010, 09:39
Maybe they should put a tracking device on Jesus!!
Carla Mifsud
Dec 30th 2010, 09:50
Alicia Dimech that's a good suggestion. I wonder why no cameras were in place to catch the perpetrators?
G Camilleri
Dec 30th 2010, 09:55
Maybe it has one already implanted inside, with GPS . I like the idea !
Let's track Baby Jesus !!
Luke agius
Dec 30th 2010, 10:04
I doubt that CCTVs are going to be installed for one month only to keep an eye on plastic figurines.
T Camilleri
Dec 30th 2010, 16:22
Luke agius it should be installed to keep track of traffic so that the emergency services would know about the traffic situation at any time like they do in other countries.
Peter Bonnici
Dec 30th 2010, 09:29
Life-insurance for this Baby should cost a bomb by now.
Chris Farrugia
Dec 30th 2010, 10:07
The insurance might say it is an "Act of God".