UPDATE: Good Samaritan replaces nativity figures stolen from Forest church

A kind stranger is helping a Bedford County church restore its stolen nativity scene.

Members of Shiloh United Methodist Church in Forest say someone dropped off plastic nativity figures last night.

The Good Samaritan didn't leave their name.  They simply left a note, calling themselves a "concerned citizen" and saying they wanted to help the church.

The new figures, which include wise men, animals, and a baby Jesus, are smaller than the ones that were stolen Sunday, but church members say they greatly appreciate the donation.

Five people were arrested Tuesday for taking the nativity characters, which were more than 40 years old and valued at over $2,000.

The suspects include five teenagers.  Deputies arrested them after finding a photo on Facebook, which showed the suspects posing with the stolen property.  Investigators say the teens cut up and destroyed the nativity figures and later threw them in a dump.

The new figures are now on display at the church, which is located at the intersection of Forest and Graves Mill Roads.

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Five teenagers have been arrested for stealing a nativity scene from a Bedford County church.

The figures, including baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the three wise men, disappeared from Shiloh United Methodist Church on Forest Road sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning.

The Bedford County Sheriff’s office says it solved the crime after receiving a call on its Crime Stoppers tip line.

Two of teenagers are juveniles. They have been charged with grand larceny, felony property damage, and trespassing on church property. They were taken to the Lynchburg Detention Home.

The three other teens – John Killgo, Scott Cooley, and Matthew Barringer – are 19. They have been charged with grand larceny, felony property damage, and trespassing on church property.

Shiloh United Methodist Church says the figures are worth more than $1,500.

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Original story from Dec. 10

A lamb was the only thing that thieves left behind after stealing several items from a nativity scene outside of a Forest church.

Figures of baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the three wise men, two sheep, a shepherd, a cow, a camel, and a donkey were all stolen. The thieves left behind the empty manger and a lamb.

The religious figures were taken from a nativity scene outside of the Shiloh United Methodist Church on Forest Road between 9 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday morning, according to the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.

The stolen items are more than 40 years old.

Church members recently hand-painted the figures to make them look new again.

"It's really disappointing, but God will forgive them," church member Kenneth Revis said. "Shiloh Church will forgive them.  Whether the items are returned or not returned, they'll be forgiven."

Church officials say the stolen figures are worth more than $1,500.

Anyone with information is asked to call Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 888-798-5900.