Donkey, Sheep Stolen from Community Creche Will Need Pricey Repairs

The sheep and donkey statues that were reported stolen over the weekend from the Ossining Community Crèche were found nearby on Monday. 

Bonnie Marconi, the treasurer responsible for the annual fees associated with the manger's upkeep, says that the statues are valuable -- the sheep's worth is estimated at $1,000 while the donkey, $5,000 -- but of course to many they are priceless.

"How can you do something like this?" Marconi told Patch, saying that some passerby must have seen the culprits prying off the statues in the night, which were fixed to the crib and heavy.

"The donkey weighs about 150 pounds," she said. 

The figures had been placed at this Croton Avenue site, at the intersection with Todd Place in Ossining, for nearly 60 years before two animals went missing from the sacred Christmas nativity scene. Their absence was first noticed by a man with a cane, who daily walks by with his dog. He told Marconi's sister, who lives near and told Marconi; Marconi called the police.

Marconi said the manger resulted from the efforts 58 years ago between a Catholic resident, Mrs. Valentine, and an Episcopal mayor, Jessie Collier, who "worked together which was very nice." Since then, individuals, who in recent years have been more or less attached with St. Ann's Church, have taken care of the scene. 

Sadly, she noted, less and less people come out every year for the manger's Christmas blessing and its harder to raise funds on its behalf.

"Things are just different now," Marconi said.

It costs the group about $1,000 each year to pay for the insurance costs and fundraise for maintenance. The figures have been painted two or year times through the years, and the shepherd is getting refurbished for some disintegration on the bottom. To replace the shepherd would cost about $3,000, Marconi said; the donkey is about three or four times bigger. 

The life-size donkey sustained great damages in the theft, Marconi said. Whoever stole it, ripped the legs off when they tried to remove it from its anchoring. "Two feet were left behind."

The sheep she reports was found less damaged, with its legs cracked and possibly "easily fixed," she said.

“I mean I don’t know it’s just like somebody punching some poor old lady in the head,” one resident, Bob Lovelace, told CBS Local News. 

Many media outlets have come out to report on this news. Marconi wishes that she weren't in the news for such an unfortunate story.

She and other residents have speculated that it seems the prank of youths rather than an act against religion.

Ossining police are still looking for the culprits. Anyone with information can call detectives at 914-941-4099.

The animals, found Monday in a backyard by a resident on Sherwood Avenue, were loaded onto a truck to be taken in for repairs. Police are investigating the case as a felony because of the worth of the items. Marconi feels at the least, "they should do community service for this."

Donations to repair the statues can be sent to:

Ossining Community Christmas Crib

7 Nelson Avenue, 

Ossining, NY 10562