by WGGB Staff

PALMER, Mass. (WGGB) -- Palmer Police have located, thanks to a modern technology, the missing Baby Jesus statue taken from a Three Rivers nativity scene two weeks ago.

Palmer Police Chief Robert Frydryk tells ABC40 and FOX 6 that Wednesday night, they received a tip via the "Text-A-Tip" program, which was recently started as a joint effort of the Hampden County District Attorney's office and the Hampden County Sheriff's department.

Officers went to the home of a 17-year-old Ludlow boy Wednesday night and the boy's mother located the statue in his room.  According to Frydryk, the statue was still in tact and in one piece. 

In a statement to police, the teen says that he and a friend were driving around Three Rivers when they stopped in front of the Nativity scene and took the Baby Jesus statue on December 3.  It is unclear what intent the boys had in taking the statue.

Frydryk said that the 17-year-old Ludlow boy will be summonsed to court and face charges in both Ludlow for receiving stolen property and in Palmer for Larceny over $250.  Frydryk also noted that they will be interviewing the boy's friend.