Stolen Alaska Nativity Scene Recovered Miles From Parish

Father Michael Shields of St. Michael’s Parish in Palmer, Alaska, confirmed that a stolen nativity scene has been recovered in good condition. The display, housed in a custom wooden structure, was taken earlier this week from the church parking lot and found several miles away near Chickaloon.

Shields stated that the scene was sitting on a flatbed trailer in the lot on Tuesday or Wednesday when it disappeared. The nativity set was constructed over a seven-year period by parishioners who built and funded the project. Shields valued the hand-molded figurines, which are based on an Italian image of Jesus, at between $25,000 and $30,000.

Community members shared information about the theft on Facebook, which led to a reported sighting along the Glenn Highway. Shields received a call regarding the location around 1 p.m. on Thursday. He drove to the area to look for the items but did not spot them during his initial search.

Palmer police officers found the scene while Shields was still in the area. Officers contacted the priest to confirm they had located the display. Shields noted that the trailer’s tires were flat when found, suggesting the thieves may have abandoned the items after losing mobility. The nativity scene was discovered partially hidden among trees.

Shields described the recovery as a Christmas miracle, admitting he was unsure if the pieces would be returned. He said the news of the theft spread quickly through the valley, reaching communities from Glennallen to Valdez. The widespread social media response generated strong community support for the church.

The pastor plans to install the recovered scene near the Palmer train depot in the center of town. The display will be set up for the upcoming holiday season following its return to the parish.

The investigation into who took the items is ongoing. Shields said the specific identity of the individuals involved has not yet been determined by police.