It wasn't that the plastic figures stolen from a nativity scene in an Arbor Heights yard were expensive. Bob Youngs was amazed that anyone would dispossess him of Jesus and Mary.

Thieves stole the figures, each about 3 feet high, from Youngs' yard in the 4000 block of Southwest 100th Street sometime during the night either Christmas Day or Dec. 26.

"It was just the idea of the whole thing," he said in astonishment.

The figure of Joseph was not disturbed. The thieves also left alone figures of the three wisemen and a camel.

Youngs thinks the theft was more a prank than an anti-Christian statement.

"But it was not good judgment," he said.

He did not report the theft to police.

"If I have to do that, what's the use? Youngs said.