Statues of baby Jesus, shepherds and a wise man were taken from the Church’s nativity scene display on Saturday.

Seventh Day Adventist Church Pastor Malcolm Eastwick said the nativity scene had been in front of church for less than 24 hours before the statues went missing.

He said the church had conducted their Christmas carols service without the baby Jesus in his manger.

However, there was some good news. Police contacted Pastor Eastwick yesterday to tell him the statues of baby Jesus and the shepherds had been located at an address in Silver Street.

Police said a Mount Isa resident reported coming home and discovering the statues in her front yard.

After police returned the statues, Pastor Eastwick said he was disappointed however to discover the damage that been done to the statues.

“It’s a bitter sweet getting them back,” he said.

“We’ve got it back but it’s probably not worth much at all anymore.”

Police said they would continue their search for the wise man statue.