A stolen figure of the baby Jesus was returned last week, and Fort Worth Police have now arrested two men in connection with the theft of the Nativity scene item.

Martin Worden, 33, and Juan Meave, 39, were arrested and charged with theft of property, $100-$750, police said.

The figure was stolen from a Nativity display at Sundance Square around 2 a.m. on December 17.

Representatives from Sundance Square took to Instagram to report that the baby Jesus statue had been taken. Meanwhile, the security team for Sundance Square reported the incident to the Fort Worth Police Department.

In a statement given by Fort Worth police last week, they said security had been beefed up.

“Sundance Square has increased security patrols, and [we] are happy Baby Jesus has been returned,” the statement read.

Sundance Square officials had asked for the public’s help in finding who took the figure from the Nativity scene, releasing a video showing one of the perpetrators of the incident.

Surveillance footage showed a man running up to the Nativity scene and swiping the baby Jesus before disappearing down a set of stairs. Another person could be seen holding the statuette.

Fort Worth police did not say how the figure was returned.

Sundance Square officials have not yet released another statement.

The bold Christmastime theft comes at the tail end of a wave of crime throughout the metroplex in 2022, especially in Dallas. In Dallas, property crimes increased by 18.49% MTD, and homicides increased by 52% in the same time period.

While stolen property offenses throughout the city have reportedly decreased 42.99% YTD, crimes against society and crimes against persons rose 3.56% and 4.87%, respectively.

The City Council Crime Briefing Summary on the City Police Department’s new “Operational Dashboard” helps citizens see more clearly how much work needs to be done by City leaders to make Dallas safer for residents and visitors alike.