2 men arrested in theft of baby Jesus from Sundance Square, Fort Worth police say

Two men were arrested this week after a baby Jesus figure was stolen from Sundance Square ahead of Christmas, Fort Worth police said.

Martin Worden, 33, and Juan Meave, 39, were each booked into the Tarrant County jail Tuesday on a charge of theft of property between $100 and $700, court records show. They were released later that day on $500 bond, records show.

On Dec. 17, the Sundance Square Instagram account asked for help identifying a man they said stole the toy infant. The post shared video screenshots of a man walking away from a Nativity scene on the Sundance Plaza stage with the baby figure cradled in his arms and included hashtags inlcuding “#grinch,” “#grinchmas” and “#grinchy.”

“Baby Jesus Thief!” the post said. “Help us identify the man who stole baby Jesus from our Nativity in Sundance Square. Help us save Christmas. HE is the reason for the season.”

According to a police report filed by Sundance Square security, an unknown person “took baby Jesus” from the Nativity scene between 2 and 2:20 a.m. that day.

On Dec. 21, Fort Worth police announced on Twitter that the figure was returned to its owner and the suspects involved in the theft had been identified. Police did not say how they identified Meave and Worden as suspects.

“A crime against religious beliefs is never acceptable,” a post from Sundance Square said after the baby Jesus was returned. “It is important to protect and honor all members of our community who hold this holiday sacred.”