A young boy returns the stolen Jesus statue, revealing he took it to give it the first ride in his new red wagon.
This episode follows Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Frank Smith investigating the theft of a small statue of the infant Jesus from a historic Los Angeles church days before Christmas. The hosts are the show's signature detectives, portrayed by Jack Webb and Ben Alexander, representing the authoritative voice of the Los Angeles Police Department. The case is presented as an authentic file from the department, dramatized for radio.
The theft occurs from the nativity crib at the old Mission Plaza Church, founded in 1781 and known as the Queen of the Angels. Father Xavier Rojas reports the statue missing after the 6 a.m. mass, explaining the church remains open all night. The statue is a decades-old plaster figure valued at only a few dollars monetarily but holding immense sentimental value for the parish community. The initial investigation involves questioning two altar boys, James Corneen and Joseph Heffernan, with Heffernan recalling a regular churchgoer in mismatched clothes. The detectives identify this man as Claude Stroop, an unemployed resident of a men's hotel, and bring him in for questioning. Stroop refuses to speak to the detectives for over an hour during interrogation.
A pawn shop detail finds no record of the statue being sold. Father Rojas emphasizes the statue's deep personal significance, stating it would be "like changing the evening star" for his parishioners. The investigation seems to stall as the detectives are pulled onto another case involving a suspect named Patterson arriving on a bus. The resolution occurs unexpectedly when a young Mexican boy named Paquito Mendoza arrives at the church pulling the statue in a new red wagon. Through translation by Father Rojas, Paquito explains he did not steal the statue but "borrowed" it to fulfill a promise.
The boy reveals he prayed for a red wagon and promised the child Jesus the first ride in it if his wish was granted. Paquito anxiously asks if the devil will take him to hell for his actions, to which Father Rojas reassures him. The statue is returned unharmed to the nativity scene, and the detectives observe the scene concludes without pressing charges against the child. The tone is a straightforward, documentary-style police procedural presented with formal, clipped dialogue and a serious demeanor. The style is a narrated drama based on "actual cases," with sound effects and matter-of-fact delivery creating a sense of authenticity.
Listeners who enjoy classic radio drama, vintage police procedurals, or heartwarming holiday stories with a moral would appreciate this episode. Those seeking complex mysteries, action, or modern storytelling might find the pacing slow and the resolution simplistic.
